Yay! Ra, I can't think of anything to say. . . besides, that you make me as happy as ever *sniffs*

Malik: Oh, don't cry again now. . .

Voice: I can't help it! I'm way too sentimental these days!

Malik: Oh Ra -.- *hugs her* Just thank your reviewers and go on with the story.

Voice: Right!

To Fluffy: Thank you ^-^

To Lee: Thanks! Hey, maybe when I write the "Outtakes" you can strangle Yami! And *blush* I've got an award. . . Did you notice, Malik? I already have your surname ^-^

Malik: Dear Ra T.T

Voice: Anyways! Thanks again! For the ramen noodles too *loves them* Is this award a good thing or do I have to quit all the cliffies?

To GraveRobbers Aman: Hey there! Yeah, they sure are cute. *hands out a muffin*

To little-kat-girl: Thank you soooo much! *hugs* Love you too ^-^ YAY! SUGAR!!

To snow-shadow-wolf: *deep blush* Th-thank you. . . yeah, I like Anzu and I don't get why people hate her because she's caring and loves her friends and. . . I sound just like her *g* Well I made her character up to what I guess it is. Oh, she did laugh at Bakura because he had to drag Mariku out of the porn shop and he was really embarrassed because of it. I've been to Hurghada twice, to Luxor and Cairo once. I just can say that I love this country and its history dearly! Though it's really creepy inside a pyramid.

*puts new flowers on the Cleaning-Lady_shrine* I still feel sorry for her. . . *~*

Ryou's POV

About three days later we were ready to start. My second mission! I tell you, I was pretty nervous! Within these three days Bakura hadn't talked to me. I had seen him maybe four times, at dinner and one time in the gym where he had been training with Mariku. Unfortunately, they had their shirts on when I came in.

It was very early when we heaved our bags into the hover planes. Sunrise was a faint nightmare of the full moon glowering above us, it was quite cold and I snuggled deep into my coat to keep me warm. My eyelids were heavy as iron and I didn't even realize that Shizuka was trying to say good- bye to me. When someone nudged me, I looked up and saw bright blue eyes through my own hazy ones. "That's our first good-bye then", Anzu said and tried to smile. "Come on, we have to go. . . ", Shizuka said after she pulled me into a gentle hug. Anzu too hugged me while the younger girl walked towards one hover plane, and I felt like I could fall asleep immediately in her arms. It was warm and gentle and loving. . .And then she released me. Great. Anzu followed Shizuka to the hover plane and I wanted to follow too, but someone held me back.

"They don't have the same destination as we have.", a familiar voice said quietly. I looked up into Bakura's crimson eyes as he watched the girls' plane start. Soon the Ishtars' plane followed. I didn't even realize tat I leant against Bakura's shoulder with his arm around me for support until he started moving. I followed him, climbed onto the seat which seemed safe to me; because it had no buttons and key pads and stuff in front of it. The cockpit was small, and my arm was touching Bakura's when he sat down next to me.

Dawn broke and turned the horizon into a pale greyish white. My eyelids became heavier and soon I drifted away into sweet, thick darkness.

*~*

Bakura's POV

The kid was asleep as soon as we started flying. I leant over him shortly, pushing a button to keep the rising sunlight away from his sleeping face so he could rest a little longer; he looked so adorable when he was asleep. Angelic, innocent features. A gentle smile on his nearly delicious lips. His legs pulled up on the seat, the knees touching his chest. I sighed softly as my hand hovered inches above his cheek.

Yes, I wanted to touch him. I wanted him to be mine. But I never dared. . . of course, he seemed to like me. He enjoyed my kisses, and touches, and he liked being around me. But he didn't know about everything terrible I had done in the past; he wouldn't want to be around me anymore if he knew. Yami could tell him. And he would if he ever came near Ryou again. That's what I feared most these days.

I pushed some buttons in front of me unconsciously, changing manual mode to autopilot. The computer knew the destination and would bring us there without any of my help. So I could watch Ryou a little longer.

My fingertips brushed his creamy cheek in a feathery soft touch; as if afraid he would wake up. His angelic smile widened a bit and his lips parted, mumbling something barely audible. "I hope you have nice dreams. . . ", I whispered. Just at this very moment the angelic smile turned into a pouting frown. My hand flinched back. Startled I watched emotions reflecting on Ryou's face faster than it was healthy; and then he started muttering.

"No, please, stop. . . don't. . . let me go! Let me go with them. . . I don't want to. . . be alone. . . Mum, Dad. . . Amane. . . "

His eyes shot open, tearstained and terrified. I just had to look like a complete jerk, leaning over him with an outstretched hand as if I wanted to choke him.

"Ba-Bakura?" His whispering voice snapped me out of daydreaming. He did look paler than usual, his beautiful eyes too bright, like a scared child.

"Yeah. Tell me, kid, what were you dreaming about?", I asked him way too softly. He flinched, though, and pried his gaze away from my eyes. "Hey." I wasn't that gentle with someone for a very long time; but Ryou was fragile, delicate, he would break if anyone was rude to him. I stretched my hand out once more, tracing my fingertips dreamily over his cheek, brushed the bangs of his soft white hair out of his eyes.

"A-ano. . . About my parents. . . ", he mumbled. I frowned inwardly. Seto had told me his parents had been murdered, but Ryou never seemed to care much about it. "What happened?" I could have slapped me for asking this question. But maybe, as Ryou flung himself into my arms, crying his heart out on my shoulder, he finally had the chance to tell his true feelings.

They died, he told me. They had been murdered, as had been his younger sister who he loved dearly, and he couldn't have done anything about it. In much ways we resembled each other, and maybe that was the reason I was attracted to him. He fell asleep in my arms again, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

We reached the area around Hurghada around lunch time. Ryou awoke half an hour before our destination and kept watching the Red Sea that glittered beneath us, next to the desert. It wasn't a blooming country anymore; there was just sand and water. And ruins, of course. North, the ancient ruins of Cairo degraded to the sand they were made of, only the great pyramids standing nearly unharmed. Thebes and Memphis, flowing cities in ancient times were fully covered with sand, and Hurghada was now called the Perished City, because the Red Sea had increased and covered the whole area around the town. I didn't know in what kind of state the Valley of the Kings was, if it was still there or not, if the ancient gods had covered it with sand too when people became too intrusive about the treasures within the tombs.

When I landed the hover plane and hopped out, happy to stretch my legs again, I saw glittering lines in Ryou's cheeks. Dried tears on his pale skin.

"Ryou, I need you to stay here and watch the plane.", I tried to explain. He looked at me puzzled.

"I have to dive."

"Dive? I always wanted to dive! Please, can you take me with you?"

Damn those beautiful eyes; I couldn't resist them.

"Maybe. . . tomorrow. When I figured everything out. Okay?" To my delight, he nodded.

*~*

Ryou's POV

So I couldn't come? Well, nice. He really intended leaving me alone somewhere in the desert. Okay, the beach we landed on was beautiful, I could go swimming, I could lie in the sun or I could build sand castles. But how could I enjoy myself without him?

. . .

I take that back. Bakura just came out of the tent he put up earlier. Hah, camping at the beach; quite romantic, ne? Anyways, he looked stunning. Completely stunning. I had never thought diving suits could be *that* sexy.

The suit was in one piece of course, sleeveless so I could see his muscular upper arms, and shorts-like legs. It had some kind of turtle neck. White hair glimmered against the black neoprene; crimson eyes glanced quickly at me before returning to his equipment. It seemed like Seto had involved some kind of pocket gas container which he tried to apply to his wrist.

I quickly jumped up and walked over to him and grabbed it, binding it carefully to his upper arm which seemed me much safer. He was quiet, but I felt his gaze upon me, nearly burning.

"Thank you." This soft whisper nearly freaked me out. There he was, the star of all my dreams, in a body hugging neoprene suit and with those deep, burning eyes and thanked me in that sexy kind of voice. I just hoped the ocean would be like a cold shower.

"Be. . . careful down there, okay?"

He smiled ever so slightly. "Okay." And with that, he walked towards the sea, pulling his diving glasses on and shoving the regulator slowly into his mouth while he turned his head and looked at me the last time. I felt myself shiver. He did that on purpose!! If he only could do this to parts of me . . . no, stop, BAD Ryou. BAD. I had to stop thinking like that. There he went. . . leaving me behind with dirty thoughts and the worry of his unknown return.

I lie in the sand for half an hour until I felt burning up. But I didn't dare to go into the water; you never know what kinds of creatures lived there. I just hoped Bakura would come out unharmed. With that, I rolled over on my stomach and watched the sea.

It was really pretty how it lie there, glittering in the hot sun, shining with all shades of blue and green. I closed my eyes for awhile, and when I opened it again the sun hung low in the sky, and my back felt like it had been burned up through my shirt. Great. Then something caught my eye, and I knew it had to be a dream. . . A glittering white head broke through the water's surface, followed by a familiar face. And it came towards me slowly.

*~*

Another evil cliffie, just to prove I'm worth my new dub (Thanks again Lee ^-^) Voice-sama Ishtar the Greatness. . . I could get used to it ^-^

Malik: Why, oh why does it have to be my surname. . .

Voice: Because we're engaged, honey.

Malik: OH. . . I totally forgot that ^-^"

Voice: Weeeell. *drop* Review please?