"I need to know about you and Bakura."

"Me? And Bakura?" she repeated with sarcasm, trying not to laugh at the boy before her. "Why do you want to know?"

"Ever since he knew you were here he's avoided you. Why doesn't he like you? I thought you two used to be together. What happened?"

"Well, sure, we used to be in love, inseparable. I taught him everything he knows about Tomb Robbing. When he was just a kid his whole family was killed and he had to learn to live on his own. That was when he met me. I'd already been a tomb robber since I was really little so I was already pretty crafty. Eventually, Bakura surpassed me in the skill and kept trying to take charge. . .that was when things between us changed. To keep my position as 'leader', I had to learn to discipline him. Just as he became hooked on thievery, I became hooked on being cruel to him."

"Cruel? To Bakura?" this shocked Ryou. It seemed hard to believe that anyone could be cruel to Bakura.

"Yeah. That's why he feared me so much. Then one day I was taken away by some guards of the Temple of the Pharaoh. That was when I was locked in the damned Millennium Item."

"Thank you. . .that's all I wanted to know. . ."

he went home and sat down on the couch.

'she was mean to him. He was avoiding her because he's scared of her. And that's why he didn't want me near Kiko. He was scared she'd be mean to me too. He was worried about me.'

Ryou fell asleep and when he awoke, he saw the familiar dark brown eyes glaring unhappily at him.

"Food boy." Bakura grumbled before dragging Ryou off the couch, which was before he finished his request. "Chicken. Rare. Now."

Ryou prepared the chicken for his Yami.

Both Ryou and Bakura packed their things up. They were going back to Domino City. Ryou was excited in a way, yet he didn't want to leave. But he had to. He nearly had no choice. Yugi needed him.

The next morning, Bakura and Ryou got an early start. Ryou left a note on the table for Kiko before they left. He had given her his phone number and address in case she ever wanted to contact him.

Bakura remained materialized as they ventured through the woods which lead to the outskirts of Domino City. Bakura led the way, moving and chopping down twigs and small branches that were in the way.

"Let me help you, Bakura. I can cut things for you." Ryou had offered when he noticed cuts and scratches all over Bakura's face and arms.

"It's quicker this way." Bakura explained. "besides, I don't want you to get all cut up." Bakura looked back at Ryou. He was still scratched and bruised from Bakura's last beating.

As Ryou followed Bakura, he saw him in a new light. He always knew how strong and powerful he was, but it was very rare, if he'd ever seen it at all, for him to see Bakura's sensitivity.

Finally, they reached Domino City. The first place they went was their old home.

"Hey pathetic human. Check on the pharaoh's light. I'm staying here to rest. Be back in time to cook my dinner."

Ryou ran off to visit Yugi once he was cleaned up. When he first walked into the hospital he was greeted by the whole gang. They knew he was coming because he'd called before they'd left the apartment.

"I'm so glad you came back." Karima said excitedly, yet softly as she embraced him in a hug.

She led him down the hall to a room. Yugi's room. Karima opened the door to reveal a bed dimly lit by the soft-tinted bedside light. Yugi was barely recognizable with the exception of his small size and a dead giveaway of tri-colored hair. His face was covered with bruises, on top of which, were deep wounds, hardly considered scratches. His entire body was limp, and if it weren't for his steady, yet nearly non-existent breaths, Ryou would have assessed him as dead.

"Yugi. Ryou's here." Karima announced Ryou's presence.

Yugi's eyes opened to mere slits to reveal his eyes, glossy and dull, yet still violet.

"R-Ryou?" Yugi choked out.

"Yes, it's me. Yugi, how are you doing?" Ryou asked with recoil as he realized he asked the most obvious question.

"Well, I feel like I have a bunch of wires in me." Yugi joked

he, indeed, had wires in his body, two I.V.'s probed in each arm, tubes came out of his nostrils and mouth, and a respiration needle protruded from his throat. He had bandages on his head and a temporary cast on his wrist so he wouldn't try to move it. Nathan had damaged him badly. . .an obvious failed attempt to kill him.

"Ryou, I'm so sorry. I never meant. . ." his voice trailed off as the eyes of all three teen filled with warm, salty tears.

"I know." Was Ryou's reply.

Ryou stepped up to the bedside. His eyes met Yugi's, and Yugi turned away.

"Look at me, Yugi. Please. I need to know something."

Yugi looked at him, very reluctantly.

"Was I ever one of the gang? Did you guys ever consider me as a friend?" Ryou asked, trying not to cry.

"Not at first. We never didn't like you, but the rest of us had just been friends longer than with you. After you left we realized how much we needed you. . .missed you. At first, we didn't really miss you but. . .after a while. . ."

suddenly realized that he had never been around just classmates, but friends.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Peggi-Yes, I know this fic is based around a lot of friendshippy stuff. Yes, you can all kill me fore it. . .oh, and yes, this was a long chapter compared to most of the others. Please review!