I think that your idea for boosting the rating is good. I've done just that. I'll only make the fic Yaoi if you really want it to be. Just leave a review saying whether you want it to be Otogi/Ryou or not. Maybe I'll consider. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: See chapter one for details.

Chapter TwoWhite Noise Harmony

I was drifting in a white void of emptiness when I started to come around. The first things I heard was a girl's voice. I remember thinking that she sounded cute.

"Ho hum, got to check up on this guy. I hate being a nurse." She said sighing. "Too bad he's unconscious though. I could really use someone to chat with… Aww and he's so cute too."

I decided to try opening my eyes. I was still in a great deal of pain, but it was less now. I am assuming I'm in a hospital and I'm on painkillers or something. It was no easy task trying to open my eyes though. I was only about half conscious, so I was basically forcing myself to come out of my daze. I managed to do it slowly.

I lay there simply focusing on blinking for a moment. I noticed the girl checking my bandages. She was inspecting my various injuries. When she touched a bandage on my chest, from one of my ribs apparently came through my skin. I breathed in sharply, as the pain was still there.

"Owwww…" I said absently, startling the girl. She looked up at me in shock. I gazed at her from my vantage point on the hospital bed. I was unable to move my head due to a pain in the back of my head, undoubtedly from where Yami Bakura ripped my hair out. I hope he didn't pull out too much from any obvious place. I love my nice silky black hair. I don't like it being pulled.

"You're awake?" she asked, looking surprised. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed and look down at me calmly.

I noticed that she had the nicest pink hair, put back into high pigtails. Her large eyes were the nicest green, like mine. She was wearing a nice blue nurse's outfit.

"Yeah… I'm awake." I said attempting a smile.

" I don't know whether this is good or bad, the doctor said you'd be out for at least 15 hours. In fact, he said that you might never wake up again, but you've gone and woken up after only five hours of being unconscious. Aren't you special." She half speculated, half told me.

" I see. Am I in that bad a shape?" I asked cocking a brow.

"Well, you broke three ribs, two of which were clean, the other was sticking out of you. You broke all your toes, three of your fingers on your left hand and one on your right. A bone in your right foot is snapped clear off. Your collar bone is a mess, broken into five pieces." She said listing the things off. "Most of your unbroken bones are bruised, there are cuts all over your body and some of your hair was ripped out, skin and all. Basically, it could be worse, but it's still pretty bad. Your cute face is all right though."

"Well, that's not too bad." I said smiling. " I thought he was going to kill me."

"Well, he almost did, whoever was mean enough to beat on you." The pink haired nurse said shaking her head. " Some people have a lot of nerve."

"I'll say." I said shaking my head. "So, like what's your name?"

"Hadishima Naoko, but you can just call me Naoko." Naoko said with a smile. "You?"

"Otogi Ryuuji, but just call me Ryuuji." I say smirking.

"I like that name." She said giggling.

"I like yours too." I say calmly.

There was a small period of silence as she started to blush.

"Well anyway, I saw your friend out in the hall, you know the white haired one?" Naoko said, trying to make conversation.

"Oh my god, is he all right?" I ask her seriously.

"He's fine, just really shaken up. I didn't talk to him, but I could tell he was fighting back tears." She told me calmly. "He's been sitting in the lobby since they brought you here, even through the little operation they had to do to fix some of your bones. He seems very worried."

"Yeah. The guy that did this to me, was after him and he's been bothering killed his father just this morning." I told her, a wave of weariness coming over me, I fought it off successfully. " Can I see him?"

"Well, visiting hours are over, but I'll let him come in, just because he's your friend, okay?" Naoko said standing up. "I'll go get him for you."

With those words, she walked out the door. I raised a bandaged hand to my forehead, feeling the bandage there with my fingertips. I winced as I easily figured out which fingers were broken.

As I was lowering my hand, Naoko returned with Ryou in tow. She winked at me as he entered, and then shut the door behind her as she left to attend to other business.

Ryou, looked pretty upset, his hair was slightly mussed, and his eyes were red. He was wearing the clothes I'd let him borrow. He looked great in them I knew he'd look good.

He walked over to my bed and sat down beside me. He said nothing for a moment, just searching my eyes with his own.

"How are you feeling?" Ryou asked me. He looked really worried.

"I'm good. A little sore here and there but I'm good." I told him, smiling as warmly as I could.

"Oh, Ryuuji, I'm so sorry for getting you messed up in this. I should have known he'd try something like that. It's all my fault." He said, the tears in his eyes threatening to over flow. " I shouldn't have troubled you with my problems."

"You didn't trouble me. I'm here for you, you've got to have someone to lean on no matter what." I said trying to encourage the guy. "And you know what?"

"What?" Ryou asked, looking kind of curious.

"I'll always be there for you." I told him calmly, locking his gaze with mine.

"But why? Why would you put your self through the pain it will cause you?" He asked, the tears starting to over flow.

"Because that's what friends do. They're always there for each other, no matter what. Plus, I don't really care if some psycho beats the living fuck out of me, as long as he doesn't mar my face or kill my hair style, I'm good to go." I told him, half shocked at myself for coming up with such an Anzu like speech. Note to self, stay away from Anzu. She's having a negative effect on me. I'm losing my style.

Ryou on the other hand, couldn't take it anymore. Tears flowing down his face, he hugged me. I restrained the gasp of pain that he'd caused by the impact on my still freshly broken bones, and the fact that his head was resting on my collarbone. I didn't know that comforting someone could be this painful. I sigh and decide to put up with it for a while.

I place my arms around the now sobbing Ryou the best I can. He's still shook by the death of his old man, so I'll still comfort him the to the best of my capabilities. Though I don't like admitting it, I care for the guy.

A sudden wave of weariness overwhelms my senses. I can't fight it off any longer, and so, I fell into a deep sleep.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

When I came to, my whole body was a little more relaxed than before. I lay there blinking for a couple of moments before I realized Ryou was gone. Naoko must have put him someplace or something. After all, he was kind of crushing me.

Okay, now I'm curious as to what time it is. When I look to a clock on the wall, I notice a white haired figure sitting underneath it. Forgetting about wanting to know the time, I decide to get the attention of whoever it is. Before my encounter with Yami Bakura, I'd have automatically assumed it was Ryou, but now I can't be sure. Well, here goes.

"Ryou?" I inquire softly, yet a bit nervously. I've got my hand on the nurse's button, you know, the one that's used when a patient needs something, just in case it's not Ryou.

The white haired guy gets up and walks over to me gracefully. I can tell just by the way he's walking: it's not Ryou. His walk, it's like a stalking tiger readying to pounce on its prey. I press the button.

"It won't work, Otogi." He said, watching me critically. "I cut the wire."

"Shit." I mumble. Yami Bakura smirks.

"You won't live through this one. In fact, I'm not going to beat you up. Just kill you." He sneered, spitefully. "I'm not in the mood to beat the shit out of you."

"Why are you trying to kill me?" I ask, kinda curious, kinda scared.

"Not trying, succeeding. I'm going to kill you because Ryou's started acting against my wishes and he needs to know who's boss." He replies sitting down on the side of my bed still smirking.

"That doesn't explain why you're gonna kill me at all." I say, confusion mingling with my other emotions.

Yami Bakura smiles, his hazel eyes taking on a dangerous sparkle as he suddenly snaps his hand out to effectively cover my mouth and nose, thus cutting off my oxygen. I try to remove his hand, but his grip is like granite compared to my weak and feeble attempts.

"It's simple really." He explains darkly. "By killing and hurting any who try to help him, he'll realize that if he doesn't comply, I'll kill all of the people he cares about. Plain and simple. It's not like beating him half to death actually made a difference."

"You know, it's really a pity, though. You and all of Ryou's pathetic friends would make excellent slaves when I get all of the Millennium Items and take over the world. Oh well. It was your choice to try to help him. I can't do anything about your stupidity. Now look where it's gotten you. You're suffocating and there's nothing you can do about it. If I were you, I'd have stayed out of it."

By this time, everything was starting to get blotched with darkness. I felt my eyes drooping as I struggled to remove the hand that was slowly killing me. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I felt Yami Bakura's hand suddenly leave its position. I heard some muffled talking as I struggled to retain consciousness and for air. Even though I was able to breathe, I had difficulty staying conscious. I eventually passed out again. Gawd I'm tired of passing out. Note to self: Thank whoever just saved my life later.

I hope you liked that chapter. Otogi won't pass out at all next chapter. I promise.

It's review answering time… Dunnt dunnt duuuunnnnnnnnnnttttt!

Hato-Chiisai – Otogi/ Ryou? Well that's possible. It all depends on how this turns out. It might. It could just be fluff though. Yeah, just fluff. I'm glad you like it thus far.

Zwen – NOOOO!!!! Not the chibi eyes!!!! I can't resist the chibi eyes!!! Must… resist….! Oh well, you win. There's more coming.

Kaede – I'm glad you like it. Ryuuji's quite wimpish isn't he. And pessimistic…. I'm flattered that you think it's realistic. I'll try to keep it that way.

Neko-Mimi – Oh look, It still lives. Well expect the next chapter soon. I'll type it up as I have time. I just started another one though. It's tentitavely titled Brother, Dear Brother. You'll see what it's about when I finish this one. Again you I am VERY flattered by your comment. It's comments like these that push me to make another chapter.

Ice Puppet – Over? No, I was just insanely busy over the past month. I actually had this all typed up, and forgot to post it. Silly me. I'll go right the next chapter now, just to make you happier.

That ends the beautiful replying. I like reviews a lot, do send them! Even flames. I can use them to roast marshmallows.