Rowan: Well, since everyone requested that I continue this story, I will. Since the obvious ending of last chapter was that Ryou was going to die and everyone would be sad, and that would be that, I can't write that. Besides, it would be like granting my yami's death wish.

Sakura: Why my death wish?

Rowan: Because all the Ryou-lovers reading this fic. would be out for my blood and I would run away, leaving you there. Because you're my yami, we look like twins, and all those reviewers would be seeing red, so the subtle differences between our appearances would not matter.

Sakura: Oh. -So, if Ryou doesn't die, what will happen?

Rowan: Well, read my story and find out. But before you do that, you have to do the disclaimer and I have to write the author's note.

Sakura: All right, here goes nothing.- To all you bloodthirsty lawyers out to get some innocent aspiring author, I just want to let you know this: Lay a finger on my hikari and you will regret it! Understand?! Rowan doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh! and never will! So there! :P

Rowan: Um, you're not doing the disclaimer again.

Sakura: Why not?!

Rowan: Because you're threats are way too lame. No one would actually believe you.

Sakura: Oh shut up and do the author's note.

Rowan: Fine!

Author's Note: Oh My God! 6 reviews for one chapter! Oh, I'm so happy! The average reviews per chapter for my stories is 1-2, so 6 reviews is a lot for me to get! Thank you all so much! Pluto, I shall try to grant your request, however not in this chapter. @ M-chan, don't jump to conclusions about any characters yet. So please, don't mutilate Otogi too much! Reviewer #1634823, thank you for saying I'm a "talented writer"! It means a lot to me .

Anyway, enough gab, except to say that a part of this chapter is in Yugi's POV and that there is yet again mention of prostitutes, yaoi, and all that I mentioned before. Oh, and in the story, the characters are about 28 years old now, so "the gang" (Honda, Jou, Anzu, Yugi) are all spread out and leading their separate lives. And they live in Japan. Enjoy!

"Secrets of Life: Chapter Two"

By Rowan and Sakura

"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." - Jack Penn

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It was heartbreaking to watch the two silver-haired men sobbing on each other's shoulders. Yugi couldn't stand watching them for more than a few minutes. 'It's all my fault that they are so upset!' he thought to himself. 'If only I wasn't such a busybody. Everyone says it's just that I'm so caring and only want to help. They say it's a good quality! Humph, shows how much they know! After all, it's because of that that Bakura found out about Ryou's secret ten years ago.'

::| | Flashback | |::

Yugi's POV:

Yami and I shared an apartment, which was in the building next door to Otogi. Our window looked right over his front porch, so we could see all the people who came and went into the mansion.

It was a pretty well known fact that Otogi hired prostitutes. I mean, what else could they have been? With their skin tight leather uniforms and incredible good looks.

I remember I once caught Yami drooling over one of Otogi's "visitors". That ended his window privileges, once I found him like that. Not like that stopped me from looking. Like I said, I'm the world's biggest busybody.

I remember I was sitting at that window, not looking at anything in particular, when I saw someone enter Otogi's house. What had caught my eye was the person's amazing mass of white hair. 'My god, was that Ryou?' I thought to myself.

I had no clue what to think. It had definitely been Ryou, but what was he doing at Otogi's? And in skin tight leather no less! I hadn't really suspected that Ryou was that type of person, to sell his body for money. I had known that something was up with my white-haired friend, but nothing like that!

So, I did the only sensible thing I could do. I went to Yami and told him everything I had seen. He totally flipped out! "What do you mean Ryou's a prostitute!" he had shouted at me.

"I mean he's a fucking prostitute!" I had yelled back. About an hour after our little argument, Yami had calmed down. He advised me to wait, gather my evidence, and, most of all, not to jump to any conclusions.

So I took Yami's advice. I kept a constant vigil over Otogi's house, watching it day and night. And more and more often, I saw Ryou go into the mansion, and always at the same times too.

About a month after my supervision, I felt I had enough evidence, so I went on to the next step. After I had seen Ryou enter Otogi's, I phoned Bakura. "Hello?" he answered, sounding groggy. I must have woken him up.

"Hi, this is Yugi Motou. Is Ryou there?" I decided to find out first whether or not Bakura really knew where his koi was.

"Sorry Yugi. Ryou's out working."

"Oh, where?" If Bakura gave me the number to Ryou's occupation, I could call and check there as well.

"At Bob's Shoe Store. Would you like the phone number?" Bakura asked politely.

"Yes thank you." There was some moving about as Bakura retrieved the number, then he got back on and gave me it. I then called Bob's Shoe Store, where my suspicions were confirmed. Ryou did not work there. Which meant that it was indeed Ryou inside Otogi's place, doing Ra knows what.

I did what I felt was right, which was call Bakura and tell him the truth. "Bakura?"

"What do you want now, Yugi?"

"Umm, I wanted to tell you something I feel you should know. Are you sitting down?"

"I'm in bed Yugi! Five minutes ago I was asleep!"

"I'll take that as a yes, then."

"Well? You said you wanted to tell me something?"

"Yes, umm, right. Bakura, Ryou has been lying to you. He doesn't work the night shift at Bob's Shoe Store. He's a…a… prostitute."

"Excuse me? But…but that can't be! Ryou couldn't be a…He wouldn't! Ryou would never lie to me!"

"I'm sorry Bakura, but it's true. I wish it wasn't, but it is."

"How did you find out about this?"

"It's a long story Bakura. I'll tell you some other time. I'm sorry I have to be the carrier of such ill news. If ever you or Ryou need my help, I'll be more than willing to assist. Good bye."

About an hour later, there was a knock on Yami's and my apartment door. We opened it to find a heartbroken Bakura, sodden with the sudden downpour precipitating outside. "Can I stay here for the night?" he asked.

And that's what happened ten years ago. That's how Bakura found out. And he ended up staying with Yami and I for that entire decade. As for Ryou, I didn't know what happened to him. Yami and I didn't dare mention his name in Bakura's presence. We even boarded up the window, the one I had spent countless hours looking out of. But that was just a small sacrifice compared to what my nosiness had made Bakura lose. I lost my favorite pastime, he lost his best friend, his soulmate, his other half. All because of me.

:: | | End Flashback | | ::

Yugi turned back to the pair on the hospital bed, his conscious feeling very guilt-ridden. 'I ruined their pasts.' He thought desolately. 'But maybe I can help their futures!'

"Hey guys! I just had a brilliant idea!"

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Please review this chapter and make me even more ecstatic than I am right now! Tell me what you thought of my continuation of "Secrets of Life"! I hope I didn't disappoint.