*Yami Malik's POV*

I snickered, my arms crossed casually as I stood with my servant Rashid. Yugi had summoned God of Osiris…he would defeat Bakura. This could not happen...I needed Bakura to help kill Yugi, like we had intended. Also, if I helped him win this duel, perhaps Bakura would look higher on me…

I nodded towards Rashid, muttering my plan. He simply agreed without words, stepping towards the field, holding out my Millennium Rod.

There was a flash of light as Rashid returned Ryou to his body. He fell to the ground in pain.

"Itai, itai yo!" Ryou was clutching his arm where his yami had stabbed him. Huh huh, he doesn't even realize that Bakura proved his loyalty to me with that cut.

Everyone gasped as Rashid explained that if Yugi attacked with Osiris, Bakura would die from the impact. Yami Yugi immediately moved to help him, but the referee stopped him and told him that if he moved, he would be disqualified. Huh huh, all according to plan…now Yugi had no choice but to surrender.

*Bakura's POV*

In those few moments of shock at the summoning of Osiris, I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness. I appeared in my soul room. This must mean-my heart beat fast from anticipation-Ryou was back! I heard his cries of pain, followed by Malik's little servant's explanation. Gritting my teeth, I realized what was going on. Malik had done to in order to force Yugi out of his victory. How cheap.

I knew in an instant what I had to do. Taking over Ryou's body, I growled, clenching my fists.

"Malik! Stay out of this! This is my duel and I don't need your help! I'd rather lose than use your low tactics, so leave this to me!" I smirked at Malik's look of surprise. I had told him not to mess with my hikari; I didn't have to hold onto his deal any longer.

Turning to Yami Yugi, I began to explain what I had realized moments before. "Yugi…this body, this soul…they are important to me; I can't allow them to die. Attack me with Osiris and end this duel!" He nodded, sending the order as Osiris rose in the air. His attacked showered me with light and I knew no more.



*Normal POV*

Bakura collapsed from the attack from Osiris, returning to his soul room afterwards. Yugi and the others immediately ran to help him. Yami Yugi refused to take one of Bakura's cards, only worried about helping him at the moment.

As the others tried to assist Ryou, Yami Yugi and Yugi stood to the side.

"Bakura and I are a lot alike. We both have to protect our hosts," Yami Yugi muttered, crossing his arms under his jacket.

Yugi smiled, clinging to Yami Yugi's arm. "Demo, Bakura doesn't work together with his yami as I do."

Yami couldn't help but smile back. "That's true, aibou." He pulled his hikari into a tight hug.

"Ai shiteru, Yami," Yugi mumbled.

"Ai shiteru mo, aibou," Yami Yugi smiled, hugging him tighter.

Everyone brought Ryou back to his room, carefully placing him in his bed. They discussed asking Kaiba to land the ship so that they could take Ryou to a hospital. Soon they all grew tired and decided to head to bed.

As they left the room, Jounouchi noticed that Anzu was still sitting beside Ryou's bed.

"Aren't ya coming, Anzu?" He grinned at her. She looked up faintly, looking somewhat dazed.

"I'd like to stay with Bakura-kun…" she muttered, turning back to the bed. Jounouchi shrugged, closing the door behind him. When he had left, Anzu held up the Millennium Ring. Under Malik's control, she placed it on Bakura's bed.

*Bakura's POV*

I eased my eyes open, awakening in that all too familiar soul room once again. Except this time I was accompanied by Ryou…

Grinning, I helped him to his feet. I hadn't wanted to admit it, but it had been too lonely without him here…

"Y-yami…" Large brown eyes blinked up at me in confusion. He was probably expecting me to hit him or at least make a rude remark about something. I almost felt bad knowing that was all he expected from me.

"…Ryou…er…I'm glad you're alright." I tried not to be too emotional, but that trusting smile was almost too much. He was like a little brother to me; the only person I had in the world right now. I had suffered with him gone; he was my true emotional support.

Before I knew it, he grabbed me in a tight hug. Blinking, I didn't know how to react at first; I mean, when was the last time someone hugged me? Then, for once in I don't know how long, I felt a smile forming on my lips…resting a hand on his fuzzy hair, I ruffled it a bit as I heard him sniffling.

"Crying again? Don't get too mushy with me…" I already felt strange doing this; I still had to make him understand that he had to comply to my wishes. He slowly pulled out of the hug, looking up at me again.

Those large eyes, so full of trust, made me feel guilty. I'd taken advantage of him this whole time…well, now I had to protect him. Not only to keep this body…I could get another if I wanted…but to protect my hikari. What can I say? I grew attached to him; I'd never had a little brother.

Something about that reminded me of Kaiba…his little brother was his only person in the world, too. Looking down at Ryou, I realized something that I had been too dense to see all along. Ryou and I were meant to cooperate; I was the darker side of his personality. Fighting inside one body would get us nowhere. But, if we brought our emotions together…

I wasn't sure where that was supposed to lead. And I had no idea how Kaiba came into all of this. Probably because my hikari still has a little crush on him. Well, I'd help him get his Kaiba, all right…

*Seto's POV*

It was the end of the first duel. I had finally seen the God of Osiris in all its glory…somehow I wasn't as satisfied as I should be. For a moment Ryou had seemed his old self again. Yugi and his friends were rambling about "the evil spirit of the Ring"… I had never believed in that bull shit. But how else could it be explained?

I guess you'll believe anything when you're in love. I had always secretly admired Ryou and his innocence…a virtue I had never possessed. But now-I loved his darker side?

Shaking my head, I found that I had wandered into the hallway where Yugi and his little group of idiots were standing idly.

"Kaiba-kun!" Yugi immediately shouted when I came in. Damn it, I can never avoid them…

The shorter boy ran up to me, looking up with wide eyes. "We need to land the ship so that we can get Bakura-kun to the hospital!" He seemed pretty worried. That made me sick. I was already in a bad mood, and I didn't mind letting out my wrath of Yugi.

"You didn't seem to care about his well-being earlier…why the sudden change of heart?" I snickered at the look of disbelief on the face of the boy who only came to my waist.

"Anou…" Heh, he didn't know what to say to that… "Onegai, Kaiba!"

"Iie…I'm not landing this ship for a little thing like that!" I stomped off, not really feeling like explaining myself. Since when was that fool worth my time?

"Kaiba-kun!" I tried to ignore Anzu's angered screeches. I needed to get to my room-I needed some silence so I could think.



Only a few minutes later, I heard pounding at the door to my room. Sighing, I tried to ignore it…hadn't I requested not to be interrupted? Again came that loud pounding. Standing up from my computer, I looked irritatingly towards my door. Who the hell-

"Kaiba! We know you're in there!" Oh, hell. It was that obnoxious Jou puppy. Why the hell should I stop what I'm doing to listen to him? Or the rest of that little group, for that matter? I didn't need a friendship lecture, or some crap about the heart of the cards.

"Come on out, Kaiba!" The pounding only grew louder. Giving in, I swung open the door, Jounouchi's fist almost hitting my chest. Looking down at them, they all seemed a bit nervous.

"Kaiba-kun…anou…" Yugi was the first to speak up. "We really need to land the ship…Bakura-kun…" Oh Kami, this again?

I reasoned that I might as well explain things to get them off my back. "I'm not landing the ship. My medical team is just as reliable as any run-down hospital you'd find down there." They all seemed surprised and relieved at my words. Do they really think I would pay all this money for an airship with no medical services?

"A-arigatou!" Yugi managed to say before they all ran off. Hm, good. Walking in the opposite direction, to the duelist's rooms, I arrived at the door to Bakura's room. Opening it slowly, I entered the dark room. The only light was the moon shining through the window, illuminating Ryou's face…he looked almost angelic.

Sitting down beside his bed in the chair that one of Yugi-tachi must have pulled up, I just watched him sleep for a moment. He looked so innocent, just like I'd remembered him. Nothing like that other side of him I had met so many times before.

Heh, good. The medical team had done as I'd ordered and left some supplies in here. Picking up a damp washcloth, I placed it on his sweaty forehead. Gently brushing white locks away from his face, I felt him starting to stir. Oh, no…he'd wake up and see me here…

Before I had time to react or think of anything to do, those large brown eyes opened and stared straight up at me.

*Bakura's POV*

In the instant I felt hands upon my face, I seized the opportunity. I could recognize that touch anywhere. My plan would now initiate…

Sitting up, I gave Kaiba my best Ryou look, big eyes and all. Apparently it worked, because he wasn't moving from that spot. Good, now all I had to do was act innocent…

"K-kaiba-sama…" I managed to stammer, forcing my face to turn red as my hikari would do. He blinked at me, probably feeling awkward.

I allowed two large tears to form in my eyes. Kaiba was probably one who wanted to protect those he cared for, seeing the way he treated Mokuba. If I was right and he liked my hikari just as much as my hikari liked him, there would be no problem.

I'd seen the way he'd looked at my hikari, after the Duelist Kingdom. I'm glad he was too afraid to approach Ryou, because then I would've killed Kaiba immediately…I wouldn't have trusted either of them.

Now I had my hikari's trust, and I knew very well how to gain Kaiba's. But why should I want it…?

"Eh…Bakura…daijoubu des ka?" The color his eyes turn when the light hits them is astounding…

"Ah…I…" Moving swiftly, I wrapped my arms around Kaiba, burying my face into his chest, sobbing softly. Heh, he didn't even move away. Score one for Bakura!

"I was in such pain and I felt so alone…" Make him feel needed. Make him want to protect you. Heh, it was working perfectly! Raising my head to look into those eyes, I saw that the shock had worn off and in it's place…sympathy?

"Bakura…" He wrapped those thin arms around me, pulling me close. His embrace was so warm…

"Will you call me Ryou, onegai? Everyone always calls me by my last name and I feel…unimportant…" He smiled-smiled! I think my, er, Ryou's goal in life is to make Kaiba smile.

This was probably the truest thing about my whole little act. I knew how Ryou felt, even though he kept it from everyone. He couldn't trust anyone, just like me.

* * *

I don't know who to trust no surprise

Everyone feels so far away from me

Heavy thoughts sift through dust and the lies

Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit

Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet

All I ever think about is this

All the tiring time between

And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me

Tension is building inside steadily

Everyone feels so far away from me

Heavy thoughts forcing their way out of me

Take everything from the inside and throw it all away

'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you

* * *

"Ryou…you're not unimportant to me…" I tried to look wide-eyed, blushing again. I should have a good laugh about this later.

"K-kaiba…" For some reason my heart was thumping too fast…maybe I was getting too good at acting like Ryou? Tears continued to stream down my cheeks.

"Ryou…you don't have to hide anymore…I know how you feel…I can make you happy…I don't want you to be sad…" And with those few words, he leaned down and kissed me gently on the cheek. It's been a long time since I've been kissed so gently, but it's never felt so sweet. This time I didn't have to make an effort to blush.

Oh, hell, I'm getting all mushy like my damn hikari! Kuso! What am I thinking? I have to get out of here…I managed to push my hikari back into his own body as I retreated to my soul room. This was what he'd always wanted, right?

Kaiba continued to kiss Ryou, moving towards his lips. For some reason I felt a pang of jealousy. Heh, maybe later I'd rub in the fact that I was the first one to kiss Kaiba!

(A/N: No, I haven't given up on my fanfics. ^^; The only reason I haven't updated in a week is because I was on vacation! Please read and review....only a little more to go and Deceit will be finished. I'm sure the story's dragging by now. x.o I'm trying to get to the point. Please just bear with me until then! Arigatou!)