MD: DAMMIT! I had this chapter half done and it disappeared! Aw well. I suppose that'll teach me to save more often.

Q&A:

Lady Silver Dragon:

MD: Huh. I guess it was mostly fluff. ^__^;;;;

You really like my fic! I'm so happy! But Shadow Realm Nursery puts my humble chibi fic to shame. You'd like it. It's even non-pairing.

Female- Yami/Yugi:

MD: Yes, Pegasus scares me. I might feel sorry for him if it weren't for the whole trapping-Seto-in-a-card thing.

Akiko Koishii:

MD: That's why I try to do one fic at a time. Easier to keep up updates. Ah well.

This chapter is a little sappy as I'm finishing things up with Ryou and Bakura. Fluff ahoy!

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Angel Mine

Bakura turned away uncomfortably, unable to meet the heart-broken angel's gaze. Ryou continued to look at him sadly, half-heartedly trying to wipe away the tears that streamed down his face. He hates me. I love him more than anything in the world, in the universe, and he hates me!

This sad mantra repeated over and over in Ryou's head, and Bakura caught it through the mind link he was still unaware of. He loves me?!! How can he love me if we've never met? I've never met him! Have I? How can he trust me? I'm the greatest tomb robber in all of Egypt! I defiled the tomb of the former Pharaoh, and dragged his body to the palace! I could kill him in the blink of an eye! But even as he thought it he knew that he wouldn't. He couldn't.

The angel continued to stare at him with broken eyes. He couldn't take it anymore. Slowly, not bothering to stand, he crawled towards the angel. When he was before him, he gently wiped away a silvery tear that had been working it's way down Ryou's cheek.

"Kura-chan?" Ryou whispered.

Bakura said nothing, crawling into Ryou's lap even though the two were very nearly the same height. He leaned against his chest and inhaled deeply. "Sorry." He mumbled finally.

"Thank you." Ryou said, smiling gently as the tears subsided. "It means so much more, coming from you."

They stayed that way a long time, the two of them. Bakura finally broke the silence.

"Angel," He said, "Why do you love me?"

Ryou blushed at the unexpected question, before realizing that Bakura actually wanted an answer. "I don't know yami. By all means, if the stories of your cruelty are true, I should hate you. You've killed more people in cold blood than I'd care to count, you're willing to do anything; theft, torture, mutilation, murder. By all means, it's easy to see why so many people hate you."

Bakura frowned, upset by the truth in the angel's words.

"But," Ryou continued, "I think, that in your heart you're just a child who was forced to grow up too fast. So, blinded by your grief and rage, you did it the only way you knew how."

"You have a funny way of thinking, Angel." Bakura said.

Suddenly a rush of air filled the room. Ryou looked up in confusion. The windows were closed, as were the doors. And even though it was the middle of December, the air was pleasantly warm.

Ryou looked down, and gasped in shock. "K-Kura-chan!" He yelled in fright. For Bakura's body was surrounded by an un-earthly golden glow.

"Wh-Wha-" Bakura was just as bewildered, and perhaps a tad more frightened.

The golden glow intensified. Bakura's legs lengthened, closing the small distance of height between the two. The glow worked it's way up Bakura's body, until a fully grown Bakura stood before Ryou.

Although Bakura was once again the same age and height as Ryou, a few differences remained. Bakura's hair was shorter now, the tips only reaching his shoulders, and his skin was golden, much like Malik and Marik. The scar on his cheek remained, and he was clothed in the flowing red and white robe he had worn in Ancient Egypt.

He blinked. "Ryou-chan, where the hell am I?"

Ryou took a second to breathe before fastening his arms securely around Bakura's waist. "I was so worried Kura-chan. But you're normal now!"

Bakura grinned. Not his I'm-going-to-cut-you-into-a-million-pieces grin, but a plain, regular smile. "Better than okay Ryou-chan. Look at me! I'm my own person now. I even have my own body back!"

Ryou's eyes widened slightly. He looked up at his yami. "Does-does that mean you're going to leave? I couldn't bear it if you did! It would destroy me!" Tears pinpricked in his eyes.

Bakura knelt beside his hikari. "Listen to me." He said sternly, tilting Ryou's head towards him with one tanned finger. "You complete me. You're mine, my angel, my light. Even if I no longer depend on you to survive, I can't leave you. And I never will."

Ryou nodded slightly. "I know. I love you Kura-chan."

"I love you to, Angel."

And in the happiness between the two, there was silence.

Seto stirred his coffee grumpily. He had wondered if he should have followed Yugi's lead and gone back to bed after the escapade outside. Of course, after watching Yami fall on top of Yugi from exhaustion, he'd had to exit the room to keep from laughing hysterically. And after that he'd figured it would probably be better to keep his head and not disturb them.

He glanced at the form shuffling into the kitchen behind him. "isn't it against one of your natural laws not to be up before nine?"

"You can thank Ryou." Malik grumbled before slumping into the seat next to him, propping Marik against the wall as he did do. "God, I hate mornings."

"What about me Malik?"

Malik's hair stood on end as Ryou collapsed against his yami in a fit of giggles. "S-sorry Malik." He choked. "It was my yam's idea, and I just couldn't resist."

"I'm so glad you're amused." Malik grumbled, not bothering to look up as he teased the last few strands of his hair back into place.

Bakura casually leaned his elbow on Malik's bowed head. "My Malik, aren't you just the perfect height for an armrest."

"Shut up tomb-" Malik turned only to have his hair shoot skyward again. "What HAPPENNED?"

Bakura put on a face of mock hurt. "Don't you like my new look Malik?"

Malik didn't have the chance to reply before he fell over in a dead faint.

Yugi snuggled his nose into the pillow, reluctant to get up even though by now he could feel the sunlight on his closed eyelids. He rolled over and mumbled something about five more minutes, only to bump into a solid object. He opened his eyes slightly to find the slumbering face of Yami, although his arms and most of his hair were still on top of Yugi. The bump caused Yami to wake however, and crimson eyes met violet as the former Pharaoh yawned and stretched sleepily.

"Mornin' Aibou."

"Yami, why are you on top of me?"

"Yami? My name's-" He paused. "Atemu. My name's Atemu."

Yugi's eyes widened.

Realization dawned in Yami's eyes. "Aibou!" He said excitedly. "I remembered my name!"

Yugi nodded mutely, grinning.

Much like with Bakura, Yami's body began glowing faintly, accompanied by a rush of warm air. Though he wasn't very tall, he was, unlike Bakura, taller than Yugi, and when the glow faded, few differences remained, save for the golden color of his skin.

He pulled Yugi up. "I even have my memories now."

Yugi nodded. "It's wonderful Yami! I mean- Atemu." He whistled. "That's going to take some getting used to."

Yami laughed. "Don't worry Aibou. You've got an eternity. Now, what do you say to breakfast?"

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MD: Don't worry! I didn't forget about Marik and Seito! They'll be next chapter. And then I might have one or two chapters after that. And then this fic will be done! Rejoice all!

Malik: Does that mean you'll be done fic writing?

MD: Heck no! I just haven't decided what I'm doing next! I also have a sad lack of reader opinions.

Review!