Author Babble: Okey-dokey, here we are. My newest attempt at a fanfic. Actually, right now I'm supposed to be doing my homework, but hey. Inspiration strikes at the funniest times. And what can I do when my long-lost muses come back? Write, that's what! So I did.

Notes/Warnings: This is a Bakura/Ryou fic, so be warned. That means shonen-ai, for all of you out there that couldn't tell. If you don't like, then don't read. That's pretty much all. Oh, and in this, Ryou becomes much more... how to put this? Feminine. Yes. So if, for some strange reason, you can't stand things like that, leave now. But review first!

Disclaimer: Nope. I definitely don't own Yu-gi-oh. I don't even have a deck. I duel with my sister's, or my cousin's. Pity me.

Last Note: Looking over this, I realize that the plot is rather cliché. Just for the record, I didn't intentionally take anyone else's idea. This plot was made up out of my own brain, so if you don't mind, don't flame me saying that I took your idea. Because I didn't, really.

Thoughts'


~*~*~*~*~*Chapter One*~*~*~*~*~

Unrequited love sucks. And so do Mondays.'

Ryou Bakura sighed as he shut the door. The morning had been bad, and the rest of the day was not looking any better. The sky was gray and overcast, and threatened to rain. He had misplaced his math homework, and had needed to spend a good twenty minutes searching for it before finding it shoved, torn and crumpled, under the couch. The oatmeal had been burnt, he had discovered a nice little nest of roaches in a cupboard, and Bakura had thrown the alarm clock at his head after he had ever-so-nicely tried to wake him up. He had to walk to school because his father wasn't at home to drive him. Not to mention it was a Monday.

Why is it that Mondays are always so awful?' Avoiding an oncoming car as he crossed the street, Ryou continued to deliberate on the subject.

Well, for one thing, Bakura is *always* crashed out with a hangover from spending Sunday night out with Marik when he should be off... doing something constructive.' This silent statement was followed by a firm nod, which earned him a weird look from a passerby who apparently thought Ryou was nodding at him.

But that's just silly. and are not words that belong in the same sentence. Destructive and Bakura though...'

Ryou yelped suddenly, and leapt out of the way of a truck. Moving back onto the sidewalk, he headed towards school.

Really, I can think of a lot of words that belong with Bakura. Dangerous, irritable, violent, rude, sadistic, gorgeous... and here we are again. I'm back to dwelling on my super, major, time consuming crush-that-prevents-me-from-accomplishing-anything-because-I'm-too-busy-thinking-about-Bakura's-eyes. His eyes are *really* pretty though. Not muddy brown like mine, but darker brown. They're the nicest eyes I've ever seen, and... NOT AGAIN!'

A rock, that had been quietly minding it's own business on the ground, bore the bunt of his annoyance. The fence that it hit suffered scratches in the paint.

This is the problem right here. All I can think of is Bakura, Bakura, Bakura. I've become obsessed! I'm not doing my homework, and my school projects are failing too. I need to do something. The best thing, of curse, would be to simply TELL him how I feel, and to miraculously find out that he feels the same way. Bu that's not going to happen. I'm not anyone but his silly, girly hikari. Having him return my feelings would be like... like... like having Seto Kaiba and Jonouchi fall madly in love with each other! And that's just impossible!'

Ryou's brain was so wrapped up in his musings that he failed to notice the wrong turns his feet were making.

If I actually got up the nerve to tell him, he would probably just laugh. Or ignore me. Or tell me that love was stupid, and *then* ignore me. Or all three. But what else can I do? This doesn't feel like something I'll be able to just grit my teeth and forget. This is a very large crush, if not something more. And if it *is* something more, what then? Telling him is definitely not an option. So I guess the only choice is to pretend I don't feel anything. And if he senses anything through the mind link, I'll just tell him I have a crush on someone else. I won't even have to say who. He won't care. And I'll just focus extra hard on my school work. Speaking of school, why haven't I gotten there yet?'

Slowly, he looked around. And gasped.

It felt like he was in another city entirely. Dirty, dark windows, placed at random intervals in filthy buildings, seemed to stare at him like empty eyes. Litter lined the streets, and graffiti covered almost every flat surface. Though there was no one in sight, Ryou still had the unpleasant sensation of being watched, and he suddenly felt very conspicuous in his tidy school uniform.

This is one of those times I wish Bakura and I still shared the same body.'

Most of the time, Ryou was very happy that Bakura had figured out how to make his own body. But every once in a while, like when he was being threatened by a bully, he wished that Bakura was still there take over and help him.

I'm lost. And this place doesn't seem very friendly. But I need directions to help me find my way back to school. School. Oh no, I'm going to be super late for class!'

He looked around for someone he could talk to, but no one was there. After a few moments of searching, he finally decided to go to what seemed to be the cleanest place and ask for help.

He headed toward the shop he picked, and then paused. A gauzy curtain, with a bead fringe, acted as a makeshift door. Strange symbols were painted on the door frame, and what appeared to be a skull sat on a window frame. Biting his lip nervously, he pushed back the cloth and entered.

The suddenly change of light, and the smoke and incense filling the room, caused his eyes to water and burn. Blinking back tears, he glanced around. Candles, perfumes and odd knickknacks surrounded him, and the only normal thing he saw in the room was a large desk. A desk, Ryou noticed with a start, that someone was sitting at.

He hadn't noticed the person before, partly because of what they were wearing. They were covered with layer upon layer of dark fabric, sand were sitting very quietly in a large chair, surrounded by shadows.

Chewing on his lip, Ryou started forward.

Um, excuse me?

The person looked up at him, saying nothing. Ryou swallowed and continued.

I was wondering... if you knew how to get to Domino High School.

The person blinked, and then leaned forward.

Yes. But is that all you *really* want to know?

Ryou raised an eyebrow.

Yes. That's all I wanted to know. So could you tell me where to go?

I could tell you many things, Ryou Bakura. Many things.

Ryou tried not to stare. This guy, or girl, was weird. And how did they know his name?

That's nice. But could you please tell me where the high school is? I'm late right now, and I don't want to get any later.

Time does not exist, so how could you be late? And I have many things to tell you.

Holding back a sigh, Ryou tried again.

Okay, great. But I *really* need to get to school. Please tell me how to.

The person shifted in their seat, and spoke again in the same breathy voice.

I can tell you many things, things worth knowing. Do you want me to tell you them?

Ryou bit his lip to keep from screaming.

No, I *don't*. Please, just tell me how to get to my school. I'm lost.

We are all lost. But I know the divine path, and many other things. I will tell them to you. Do you want to know?

Ryou snapped.

NO! No, I don't want you to tell me ANYTHING! All I came in here for was to see if I could get directions to my school. But NO! Instead I get some weirdo talking nonsense! I don't think you know how to get to Domino High! I'm leaving!

Okay, okay. Sheesh. Don't lose it.

Ryou blinked, and stared. The person had suddenly spoken in a totally different voice.

Wha... what?

I mean, here I go, trying to give you all sorts of good advice, and you yell at me. People these days are so ungrateful.

Still muttering to themselves, the person started to walk away. Ryou jumped.

Wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just kind of pressed for time. Please don't leave. Or at least tell me how to get to school before you go.

The person swung around again. Though Ryou could not see their face through all the cloth, he still got the distinct impression that they were glaring at him. Silence reigned for a few minutes, until the person finally sighed.

Okay, I'll be honest with you. I have absolutely NO idea how to get to your school. Wait, don't go! They added suddenly as Ryou turned around and headed for the door.

Just because I don't know that doesn't mean I don't know *anything*. I can help you out with other stuff, if you just stay here a minute longer. I mean, it's not like you have anywhere else to go. You can't go to school, can you? So why not stay here and let me help you out? Please? It would be a really nice thing for me too, I need to help a person in need today anyway.

Ryou sighed. As annoying as it was, the person had a point. He couldn't go to school, and he really didn't have anything else to do. Bakura wouldn't wonder where he was until three, and even if he did, there was always the mind link. Yugi and the others would just think he was sick. He didn't really have anything to lose, and it would help kill time.

All right then. How do you plan on helping me?

The mystery person flashed him a peace sign.

Well, I know that you're having troubles in love, Ryou Bakura. Unrequited, isn't it? I could help you with that. Make it so you could tell him how you feel without having to worry about being scorned. What do you say?

I don't know... it doesn't sound very believable. How do I know it's for real?

Suspicious, aren't we? Well, you don't have to be. You'll see the changes yourself, and I'm not even going to charge you! But tell your friends about my store, won't you?

Ryou nodded slowly.

So... you're not going to charge me? For whatever you're giving me?

The person nodded enthusiastically.

Yep! Or nope. No, I'm not going to charge you. Now let's see... ah! Here we are.

They handed Ryou a bottle filled with an unknown liquid. The bottle was dark green, and had a large cork as a stopper. Ryou looked at it with worry.

All right. Take this tonight for effect. Tomorrow, you won't have to worry about telling your crush what you feel and getting laughed at or heartbroken.

Ryou bit his lip, and took the bottle. After thanking the person, and getting directions to the main street, he headed for home.

~*~*~*~At home~*~*~

Ryou slowly unscrewed the bottle and smelled it's contents. Roses and what smelled like turpentine hit him.

Yech. It doesn't seem too healthy. Well, here goes nothing. Let's hope I'm still alive tomorrow.'

Drinking the bottle down in one gulp, he blanched at the taste, brushed his teeth and went to bed.

~*~*~*The next morning*~*~*
Ryou sighed, and stretched out in bed. It was still a gray, gloomy day, but he felt better. He had just been having a bad day yesterday. Quickly, he rolled out of bed and put on a shirt. Or tried to. For some annoying reason, his chest was getting in the way. Wait. His CHEST?

Ryou stared at the curves, and then ran to the mirror. There he was, all right, but different. His face was smoother and rounder, and his eyes were bigger. His lips were soft and dark red, and his skin was smooth and very soft. In short, he was the girliest girl he had ever seen.

A piercing scream echoed throughout the Bakura household.

~TBC~

Well, here we are. Or at least here I am. I don't know if anyone even bothered to read to the end of this piece of... how to put it politely? Crap. I don't really think it's all that good. But hey. I wrote it, so of course I don't like it. I never like anything I write, no matter what. Now I'm sad...
Anyway, read and review!

One more thing: I love Ryou, really I do. He's my all time favorite character on Yu-gi-oh. So I'm not trying to insult him when I make him talk about how Bakura will laugh at him. But I know from experience that people suffering from crushes somehow develop severe inferiority complexes. You know How can *he* like *me*? He's like, *so* popular! All the girls like him! I have *no chance*! And I'm so totally *not* pretty. Eeewww... I've made my friends sound like shallow, boy obsessed valley girls. There're not. But anyway, inferiority complexes. That's all I'm trying to say. So don't get mad at me, okay? Please? I have a low ego right now...