Rows of them around me, tall and hooded, black gaping mouths and empty sockets where eyes once where. Their cloaks flowed like crimson water from on high, a river meant to take me away. Shadows of fire danced on the walls behind them and wind rushed furiously in their direction, threatening to lift me from the spot where I knelt, to fling me into the hands of the merciless, where I would always remain. Do I fight? And come out alive? Surrender to power of the elements to meet my fate?

I closed my senses to the power, looked into my own hands, listened to my own racing heart and fell to the ground my head reeling and my mouth dry, and knew no more.

* * *

The thudding was back. Was it my heart?

No…It was further away. Instinctively I peered out through the mess of hair obscuring my eyes and tried to focus on the bleary world in front of me. Sharp pain shocked me into consciousness, stabbing in my left arm. Reaching frantically, I felt for the needle and coaxed the syringe out of my arm. That was better. Sitting up, I noticed for the first time I was alone, and it was no longer dark. On the contrary, lethal white poured over my naked torso, stinging my eyes. I was lain on cold stone, leant against sharp rock. I could hear rushing water and the noise struck me with a feeling of familiarity, as if from a dream I couldn't place. I was too sick to even think about it.

* * *

I should never have left him alone.

Driving through the empty roads around the sea, Yugi felt sick to the stomach with the regret of last night. It sould have been on the happiuest nights of his life. Having finally asked Jess to marry him, he'd rushed around to tell Bakura his good news, hoping to confide his happiness and excitement in his best friend.

Ryou barely seemed to hear him. His eyes remained stony and cold and his expression did not waver once. Confused and annoyed, Yugi had become angry with him and they had had a huge argument before Yugi had stormed out upset and offended, leaving his friend crying quietly face down on the floor.

Depressed and guilty, he had returned to the tiny house this morning to find empty wine bottles, dirty syringes and a trail of blood that seemed to lead everywhere. Flashes of Ryou laying somewhere crying, bleeding, dying …these thoughts seem to burn a hole through Yugi's brain, and he squeezed his eyes shut tight fighting back the tears.

"WATCH IT PAL!"

He jumped back to reality, realising he had been driving with his eyes shut, almost veered to the wrong side of the road. He pulled over at the nearest lay-by to get some air. He had to find Bakura.

* * *

Bakura found himself awake again. He forced his eyes open, it was dark now.

How long am I going to stay here?

He had assumed, without panic, that he was to die here. He had not expected to wake up again, to see the sky and breathe the fresh sea air. The stars were so bright though…they'd never been so bright before tonight. He felt a little glad to still be alive, just to see the stars. His own thoughts shocked him; was this how little he valued his life?

And he knew exactly who to blame. Yugi. It was all his fault. They'd spent so many years in love before Yugi had abandoned him without even looking back. And now hes was going to marry her. He didn't care if he never saw Yugi again, this hurt was too much, forgiveness just wasn't an option.

He wasn't being selfish. Wasn't it Yugi that was being selfish, leaving him? If he closed his eyes, he could just about see Yugi's face, staring down at him, looking at him through eyes glazed with hurt with a stony stare.

"R..Ryou..?" With a start, Bakura realised his eyes were open; Yugi really was standing in front of him, looking deeply concerned. He was in a worse state that Yugi had imagined, the once smooth flesh across his toned chest badly scratched and bruised and he was a pale shade of green. Tears filling his eyes with guilt at the thought that this was his own doing, Yugi knelt beside his friend and helped him to sit up.

"Come on. Lets get you home."

* * *

Neither spoke on the drive home. Bakura leant against the car window, staring blankly at the speeding surroundings. Despite knowing it was not the time, Yugi found his thoughts resting on Jess. He should be spending the day with her, not chasing his jealous best friend around.

Back at Ryou's house, Yugi ran a hot bubble bath and helped Bakura into it. Kneeling by the tub, supporting his head with his hand in fear of him falling asleep in the warm water, he gently sponged away all the traces of sick and blood congealed around his mouth and neck. All the problems, the talking, arguing, explaining; this could be left for another time. He filled a jug with hot water and trickled it gently over his shoulders. Bakura, squirming slightly at how nice the water felt, closed his eyes in a haze of contentment. All his worried about Yugi abandoning him had been washed away with all the dirt, and once again he was happy to be alive.