Disclaimer: If you don't know where it is then read the rest of the chapters BEFORE reading this one.

Chapter Three – Melody of Recovery

"Otogi! Otogi, wake up!"

There was someone shaking me gently as I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was a pair of large innocent purple eyes looking at me. Yuugi was leaning in so close; the Millennium Puzzle was resting against my side. It would have startled me if I hadn't have been so groggy. My head feels like soup.

"Uh……. Yuugi?" I managed to say, my head slowly waking up.

"Yes, it's me! Are you all right?" he asked me, looking concerned.

"I guess. What happened?" I asked feeling a bit more awake now.

"Yami Bakura tried to kill you. When I came in, you were unconscious and he was holding your mouth and nose so you couldn't breathe. " Yuugi told me, shifting so, his puzzle was removed from my side.

"I remember that…"

"So I let my Yami take over and Bakura turned the situation into a shadow game. We played cards, the stakes being your life." Yuugi told me, calmly. "I almost lost but in the end I won. The score was 100 to 0."

"What happened to Bakura's Yami?" I asked curious.

"He was sent to the shadow realm. It's supposed to be for eternity, but he'll come back in a month or two." Yuugi said looking like he was sure of it.

"Oh…. I guess that'll give me enough time to recuperate… How's Ryou?" I said a look of I don't know what entering eyes.

"Ryou's pretty torn up about something. What's going on? Why did you guys leave class the other day? I only came because your manager said you were here." Yuugi asked me, looking rather confused. "Ryou won't tell me. He told me to ask you."

So I told the little guy about the going ons of the god knows how long span of time I've been trying to help Ryou. I still don't know how long I've been in the hospital. Yeesh. They could have at least given me a calendar.

"So that's what happened. I see now." Yuugi says looking kind of sad. "So that's why you're in the hospital…"

"Yeah. That's it. I try to counsel a guy and I almost get killed… twice." I say, laughing a sudden sharp burst of laughter.

"Otogi, that's not really funny. Did you hit your head?" Yuugi asks me looking very concerned now.

"Yeah, he threw me to the ground pretty hard. Then he ripped some of my hair out. I don't even know how bad I look." I say feeling pretty disgusted.

"You look really pale and your eyes are bloodshot. Probably from the shadow magic Bakura used plus the lack of oxygen." Yuugi tells me truthfully.

"And my hair?"

"The hair loss isn't too noticeable. It looks pretty messed up though." He tells me, looking rather confused.

"I see……." I say pouting.

Then the inner idiot that everyone has decided that trying to sit up is a good idea. With my lack of strength, and the condition of my bones, I'm lucky I didn't pass out cold again. I gasp in pain as it sears through my body. I'm smart enough to know that flopping back down would only cause more damage so I sit there, breathing heavily through the blinding pain. Damn nurses can't even give me painkillers. It might take some of their energy.

"Otogi! That's not a good idea!" Yuugi says, a surprised tone in his half panicked voice.

"I'm..*gasp*.. fine…" I tell him with an attempt to reassure him by opening my tightly clenched eyes and looking at him, hoping he doesn't notice my grit teeth.

He doesn't buy it. And looks very concerned, which of course augments when I suddenly lose strength and start to fall over to the side of the bed he's sitting on. He catches me gently and holds up me around the shoulders. I continue breathing heavily and smile my thanks.

"Otogi Ryuuji! If you don't watch yourself, you're going to kill yourself!" Yuugi shouts at me.

"Yeah…*gasp* I know." I say, opening my eyes as the pain becomes a little bit more bearable.

The door suddenly opens and Anzu sticks her head in. She undoubtedly came with Yuugi to the hospital. I swear she follows him like a sick puppy. She's nice though. I have nothing against her like some people think I do. She looks kind of alarmed.

"Is everything all right, Yugi…oh my gosh! What happened?" Anzu asks looking even more alarmed.

"I… don't know. He sat up and then almost passed out." Yuugi told her, shifting ever so slightly as to make the pain almost unbearable. I hiss and squeeze my eyes shut. I somehow feel Yuugi wince through the pain.

"He can't do that!" Anzu shouts at him. "He should be lying."

"Ha… I*gasp* proved you wrong! I*gasp* can and did*gasp* sit up…" I said through grit teeth. I could feel myself getting weaker.

"Otogi, you should lay back down. You're going to re-open a wound or something." Yuugi tells me with a concerned tone.

"Nnnn.. I'm fine." I say attempting to reassure him and Anzu, who is currently inspecting my IV pole.

"Uh, why is his painkiller tube cut? And why is the call the nurse thingy detached from it's wire." She asks me, looking kind of confused.

"Yami Bakura was in here earlier. He probably did it so Otogi wouldn't be able to call for help or do anything through the pain before killing him." Yuugi answered before I could say anything.

"Tried to kill him?" Anzu said looking outraged.

"He tried to suffocate me." I say bursting into laughter which is impeded by coughing.

"Otogi! That's not funny!" Anzu shouts at me, frowning.

"I think it is…" I say smirking at her. "Maybe… *gasp*I'm just giddy from the blood *gasp*loss."

"Blood loss? You're bleeding?" Yuugi asks me, looking scared.

"Yeah…" I say. "I just noticed it"

"Otogi, you're an idiot." Anzu tells me, frowning before storming out the door.

"Anzu!" Yuugi shouts after her.

"I can't believe she just left like that." He mumbles frowning at the open door.

"Yeah." I say half whispering.

"How about you lie back down so I can go get someone to take care of your reopened injury?" he asked with that "comply or else" look in his eyes.

I don't really feel like resisting right now so I comply. He smiles before gently lying me back down on the bed before leaving. I laid there silently for about five minutes before Naoko walked in and frowned at me, Yugi behind her.

Naoko and that doctor dude take care of me yet again. They had to reset a couple of my fingers and re-secure that one rib that likes poking through my skin. They didn't bother to sedate me. I think they're all idiots but as long as I get out of the hospital in a healthier condition than I entered in, I'll be happy.

When Yuugi told them that I sat up (I still don't know why I was that stupid), they threatened me that if I did it again, they'd strap me to the bed. I didn't like the thought of that because you never know when Yami Bakura's going to show up, even with him being "banished to the shadow realm". Whatever.

They moved me to another room with a nurse buzzer that actually works. So here I am lying on the bed. Anzu glaring at me from the side of my bed while Yuugi went to go use the washroom and talk to Ryou.

"I can't believe you, Otogi." She said shaking her head. " I still can't believe that you got so beat up. And you think it's funny. HOW can you find being almost killed funny?"

Okay… not what I was expecting… at all… I don't really know what I expected her to think.

"I uh…. don't know." I tell her, playing with a lock of my hair. I let it show that she's caught me off guard.

"Well. It's not normal. You shouldn't be so messed up about this! It's not like your father died." Anzu bitches at me, the glare intensifying as she thinks she's found a weakpoint.

I flinch. She's hit a soft spot. She was right. It's not as if my father died within the past couple of days. I only got the living fuck beaten out of me. I quickly go from feeling better to feeling depressed, mostly for Ryou, partly for myself.

It must have shown because Anzu got that solemn look on her face.

"I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."  She told me, sitting down on my bedside. "I know it's not fair to you as you almost sacrificed yourself for Bakura, but you shouldn't be laughing about that. It's not healthy."

"Then what are you suggesting I do, Anzu?" I ask her, curious as to what her answer'll be. Sacrifice? I guess you could call it that.

"Well. If you keep acting out of the ordinary, you should go see a counselor. That might help a bit. Plus you can talk to any of the crew. We're your friends. We stick up for each other. No matter what!"

"Hmph… don't you think I know that song and dance by now?" I ask her, cursing myself for walking into the start of a speech.

"You should, even though I've never told you it." Anzu said smiling. "It kinda goes without saying, But Jonouchi hadn't heard it when I told him so I thought you hadn't either."

I shrug… and wince… stupid collarbone. Why did it have to be broken too? Anzu glares at me.

"You'd better cut that out! You're making Ryou worry about you! Cut him some consideration. I can't understand why he went to you and not any of up though. You're the most cocky, stuck up guy I know!"

 "You're so polite." I say, heavy sarcasm lacing my voice.

"What's that supposed to mean!!" she asked me, standing up, looking livid. "I'm tired of having to listen to you. In fact, I don't have to. I'm leaving!"

She walks out the door. Let her leave. I don't care. I can't believe how Yuugi and the others can stand her. She's annoying.

I lie there for a couple of minutes thinking about how I still don't know what day it is. I'll have to ask whoever comes in next.

Sure enough, Ryou walks in. He's still wearing my outfit. Actually, it looks like he washed it , which is good. He must have. I remember having some weird stain on the vest and it's not there any more. From the looks of things he read the tags.

 I note that he's also wearing my armlets and bracelet things I usually wear. You know. The gold ones? Those. He must be safeguarding them for me because hospitals could lose anything I swear it. Well anyway it looks good with his Millennium Ring around his neck. The gold tones compliment each other.

"Hey, Ryuuji." He says walking over to sit on the side of my bed where Anzu was. "How are you feeling? Better?"

"A bit better, yeah. How are you?" I note that he looks a lot better. He must have had time for proper grieving. I'm starting to feel depressed again.

"I'm fine. I've gotten better. I'm adjusting. I just don't have a place to live anymore. At least I won't when the insurance company finds out. I should get some compensation, but not much." Ryou says, thinking for a moment. "Father was going to write his will before the next trip. I didn't get anything. Just my belongings."

"Ryou, is that really something you should be thinking about right now? Aren't you still getting over his death?" I ask, half shocked. I hope I didn't hurt him with my question as I mull over his words in my mind.

"Well… the insurance company father had is evil. They called and told me I had a week to either pay up of leave the house. I don't have anywhere's to go to so I'm stuck." Ryou said smiling wanly.

"You can live at my place if you want to. I have room." I tell him smiling reassuringly. "That is… if you want to."

"That would be nice. Thank you Ryuuji." He said, smiling genuinely.

"You're welcome, Ryou."

Now isn't that peachy? End of chapter three. No cliffhanger, and no Otogi passing out. Heh!!

And now for the Thankyous and replies for the Reviewers!!! I love you!!!

Takeru Yoshizuki: I'll keep it up!!! No worries there. I know that if I lag, Chromefox'll bitch me through it. Thanks for the review.

Amy Rose: I've got you hooked? Coolness!!! I have another fic coming into the picture before long so I hope you like that one too! It's gonna be called The Diamond Blade. It's gonna be a pirate one. It should be fun. It'll be more humorous than this one. Imagine. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Cast as Pirates!!!! Thanks for the review!

o-YamiMalik-o: I'll update more often for ya(no lies). It's getting fun t write this one.. plus, if I don't, like I said to Takeru, Chromefox'll have my hide^^. I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the review!

hato-chiisai: You came back!!!!!!*hearts* Yay! A repeat reader!!! You liked my fic that much? Wow! That is a cute pairing isn't it? Thankles for the review.

Ice Puppet: O_O another repeat reviewer? People actually came back? Yay!!! I thought that Ryuuji liked Chinese tho. At least… that's what the nice websites said. They said that he liked Chinese and hater anything with vinegar. If what you're saying is true… oops! My bad! I'll change it eventually if it is true. But I've yet to see a site that says otherwise. Where did you get this information? I'm curious. J

Okay all of you. You really want it to be a Ryou/Otogi pairing right?? Well. Here'a a poll! Looks like the majority of you at the moment, but… can't be sure.

Next time you review to this story, I want you to put whether or not you want it to be a Ryou/Otogi pairing or not. Okay? Please? Thanx! ^_^ Please review! I can use flames to keep me warm at night! Speak your mind, be it nice or not. A little review goes a long way!!!!!