((Author's note: Oh I am so happy. You do not know how great it feels to have wonderful reviews from all of you! :::hands out cookies::: I love you all! Plus I have a surprise to all of those who are so conscientious and review.))

Bakura: What is that supposed to mean? Yeah right, what surprise, she barely owns a toothbrush!

Ryou: Shh. it's not nice to burst her energy bubble.

Black Sabre: Oh Bakura!?

Bakura: Oh shit, now what does she want?

Black Sabre: Would you do me a favor? :::without waiting for an answer::: Great! Please hand these out to all of my faithful reviewers.

Bakura: No I won't, and besides :::looks at Black Sabre's presents::: What the, hey these are...

Ryou: PLUSHIE'S!!! :::grabs a few and starts to kiss them:::

Black Sabre: awe that is adorable :::grabs camera while Ryou poses:::

Bakura: whatever..:::hands out plushies to Yami Krissy, Nikou Kaiba, and darkangal322:::

Ryou: Black Sabre owns nothing, especially because I have the plushies!!! :::cuddles with plushies:::

::::::::::::::::::::Tears of the Sands::::::::::::::::ch4::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ryou slid down the wall and drew his knees in around him. He could not hold it in this time. Tears trickled down his cheeks as he cried into his hands. Life was beginning to crush into all sides of him. There was no escape for him. He wanted it to end right there, right now. He looked across at the dagger that his Yami had dropped. As he reached for the weapon he heard something that caught his alertness.

"And what of the young boy upstairs. what can we use him for?"

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::

:::General POV:::

Ryou stiffened and sat up slowly. He crawled to the doorway and looked down in the sitting area. His eyes were fixed on his Yami and his guest. Both were engaged deeply in conversation, because they didn't notice the soft and confused eyes of Ryou.

"I was intending on leaving him out of this completely," Bakura confessed.

"Not so fast Bakura, you mentioned that your hikari was friends with Yugi Motou, correct? Therefore, we can use this to our advantage. Besides, the way that he was looking at me, I'd say he has a very weak spirit. It would be all too easy to control his mind!" Marik started to laugh but then stopped as he felt the aura in Bakura rising with heated anger.

"Ryou does not need to be involved with this. You can use your damn mind slaves for your dirty work for all I care!"

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you care for him with a great portion of your black heart," Marik retorted.

Ryou sucked in air quietly and his heart started to beat faster. 'My Yami... cares for me?' A brief wave of happiness rushed through his mind and soul. For a moment, he felt as if lifted on a cloud; but the spell was broken.

Bakura's eyes slanted angrily and his voice sharpened as the blade on flesh, "I said that I didn't want to use that simple-minded baka! Now on with your plan, my patience is running out very quickly; and when my patience runs out, you are as good as in the Shadow Realm!"

"Temper temper, you almost remind me of myself. Now do we have an agreement? You must lure Yugi into the designated place, and I will hold up my end of the bargain. Oh and by the way, your hikari is most attractive." An amused chuckle escaped his throat. With that he turned and walked out the door.

The young boy on the top floor felt tears again swelling in his brown eyes. His pale hands clenched at his side tight. 'I will never let them hurt Yugi. I must find a way to stop them; but how? Who am I to challenge them?' His thoughts were interrupted by a growl above him as he lay on his stomach. Ryou looked up and gasped.

"Yami please! I didn't mean..."

((Author's note: Sorry it was so short. If you guys review, I promise to make them longer. Please REVIEW!!!))