A/N: After reading WalkingintoWallsPerson's review, (by the way, thank you to EVERYONE who reviewed!) I feel I must clear one thing up: Bakura DID NOT do all this to Ryou JUST SO HE COULD GET THE MILLENNIUM PUZZLE. annoyed look There was another reason instead, which you'll all find out next chapter.

Chapter Three: Revealed.

Friday came, bringing with it a sense of relief, calm and many utterings under the breath of T. G. I. F (Thank God it's Friday). With the exception of one person.

Yami was agitated. Something had been gnawing at his mind since Monday, every time he looked at Ryou. If questioned, he couldn't explain what had been making him so anxious; perhaps it was the was the teenager would sometimes look at the Puzzle, or maybe the way he held himself, the way he looked so much more confident of himself than usual. Little things, virtually meaningless on their own. But putting them together led him to the same conclusion, over and over again: the white-haired figure who sat at the desk was not Ryou.

He had voiced his suspicions to his other half only to find himself being dismissed, or being answered with things like – "aibou, why would the other Ryou want to be in control during school?" and "so what if it is him? He's got a right to come out, just like you have."

The problem was that he couldn't explain how he knew it wasn't Ryou, or what exactly the Tomb Robber might be up to. So for the time being he had to content himself with watching the white-haired student through Yugi's eyes as often as he could, noting everything that seemed even slightly out of the ordinary. It was a little bit like listening to a song played in the wrong key – you knew something was wrong, but it wasn't always clear what.

……….

Honda looked at his watch and cursed in annoyance. "Nearly time for lessons, and I haven't got my books. Ryou-kun, will you come down to the lockers with me?"

"Sure."

In his soul room, Yami watched through narrowed eyes as the two teenagers walked off. Dammit Tomb Robber, what are you up to?

Yugi heard this thought and sighed. (Aibou, why do you have to be so suspicious of everyone? Honda-kun's not going to get sent to the Shadow Realm or anything.)

((He might,)) Yami muttered darkly.

(What would that achieve?)

((His motives aren't always obvious.))

(Now you're just being silly. See? They're back already. And Honda-kun's still in one piece.)

((At the moment.)) Yami glared mentally at Bakura, as if by doing so he could somehow read his thoughts. ((Stupid bastard. Thinks you're so stupid just because he's taller than you and –Oh my Ra, that's it!))

(Ow! Stop shouting!)

((Sorry. But that's it! Don't you see?))

(See what?)

((Look at them.))

Yugi obediently turned his head over in Honda and Bakura's direction. (I don't see anything unusual.)

Yami might have lost his temper then, but years of living in Yugi's head had taught him that you needed to be patient with him, and he'd get there in the end.

((Honda and…Ryou are practically the same height. That's not normal. Ryou's at least two inches shorter than Honda. But when the Tomb Robber takes over, he becomes taller. Now do you believe me?))

What he expected was a gasp of understanding, followed by thousands of apologies. What he didn't expect was a gentle laugh.

(Aibou, you're so paranoid its funny. Ryou-kun probably had a growth spurt or something.)

((Growing two inches in a week?)) Yami said disbelievingly.

(Its not unheard of.)

Yami was about to reply when the bell signalling the start of lessons rang. There were universal groans from the group.

"I hate Maths," Ryou muttered.

"Who doesn't?" Jounouchi replied lightly. "Hey Yuug, can I sit next to you in the lesson?"

"Sure."

The group dispersed, with everyone drifting off to their relevant classes, including Yugi. With the vaguely angry feeling that he'd just missed something, Yami fell silent. All at once something clicked, at he let out a yell of triumph.

((Yes!))

(What now?)

((What did Ryou say, just a moment ago?))

(He said he hated Maths. Which was perfectly true. Yami, are you going to try and find something wrong with that now?)

((I don't need to try; I've already found it. Aibou, say that sentence again. About the maths.))

A sigh. (I hate Maths.)

((No, that's wrong. You didn't say it how he said it.))

(Do you want me to say it out loud?)

((No, in your head will do. Fine, I'll say it. I hate Maths.))

(I still don't under-)

((Think, aibou. What was the difference between the way I said it and the way you said it?))

Silence, while Yugi thought. Then a gasp. (Kami-sama! He used 'ore'! Ryou-kun never uses that!)

((Exactly. Its always 'boku,' isn't it? Now do you believe me?))

(Yes. Definitely.)

In his soul room, Yami was tempted to roll his eyes in an 'at last' gesture, but it wouldn't have been appropriate for a Pharaoh.

(So what do you want to do now?) Yugi started heading towards the Maths classroom as he spoke.

((After school, I want to go round to Ryou's house. Maybe then we'll get some answers.))

………..

"Yami…?"

"For the third time aibou, yes I am sure." And Yami rang the doorbell.

Bakura answered it. He looked slightly taken-aback to see them, but mastered his surprise almost at once. He did, however, attempt to close the door in Yami's face. The Pharaoh stuck out a foot and stopped him.

"Enough games, Tomb Robber. Where's Ryou?"

Bakura arched an eyebrow. "That's it? Just 'where's Ryou?' No 'I know you're trying to steal my Puzzle and you won't even be fit for the Shadow Realm once I've finished duelling you?'"

"That comes later," Yami answered grimly.

"Thought as much," the Ring-spirit murmured.

"What?"

"Nothing important."

"Fine, whatever. Where is he?"

"Who?" Bakura had decided on the spur of the moment to be as aggravating as possible. It was always fun to wind up the Pharaoh.

"Ryou, you idiot."

"Oh, him. Upstairs."

"I want to talk to him."

"Fine with me." Bakura smiled at the look on the Pharaoh's face. Raising his voice, he yelled, "Ya-do-nu-shi!"

Yami scowled at the demeaning word, saying nothing but silently filing it away in his mind under the 'incriminating evidence against the Tomb Robber' section.

After a few moments there came a reply, sounding unusually cold. "What?"

"The Pharaoh's here. He wants to talk to you."

"Y-yami no Yugi? Here? N-no!" There was the unmistakable sound of a door slamming. Ryou's voice held an undercurrent of fear that made Yami's eyes widen. "Make him go away!"

Bakura turned to the other spirit, his arms folded and with a smug, obviously satisfied expression on his pointed features. "Doesn't seem like he wants to talk to you, does it?"

"You…did something…" Without finishing his sentence, Yami dashed upstairs in the direction of Ryou's bedroom. Bakura and Yugi were left looking at each other, the latter with a very nervous expression on his face. Then Bakura smirked, accompanying the expression with a glow from the Ring. Yugi let out a squeak of fear and ran after his yami.

……….

"Ryou? Are you there?"

"G-go away!"

"Please, let me in. I need to talk to you."

"Well I d-don't want to talk to you! Leave me alone!"

"Pharaoh, are you harassing my host?" Bakura asked smoothly. "I wouldn't want you to upset him. He can be highly-strung."

"Silence, commoner," Yami snarled. He softened his voice. "Ryou, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Yami, p-please make him go away! I don't want him near me!"

The satisfied smile on Bakura's face grew wider. "Of course, my little vessel." Then turning to Yami: "You heard him, Pharaoh. He doesn't want you near him." He laughed out loud at the baffled hurt on the Puzzle-spirit's face.

Yami looked down, and saw there was no lock on the door. It was only Ryou leaning on the other side that made sure it stayed shut. He pushed, and felt the door open a little. Ryou gave a shriek and ran off.

Yami flung the door open. He was just in time to see a skinny figure hurtle towards the bathroom, the flash of white hair like a rabbit's scut, giving warning to all who saw it. Then Ryou slammed the bathroom door shut, and this time it was followed by the distinctive click of a lock.

"Damn," the spirit mumbled to himself. ((Aibou, can you see if you can persuade him to come out? I'll try and make the Tomb Robber leave. Maybe them we'll get more sense out of Ryou.))

(Okay.)

Yugi crossed over to the bathroom door. Yami turned his attention to Bakura.

"Would you please be kind enough to leave? The only reason Ryou won't come out is because you're here."

"Allow me to disagree with you, my King," the Ring-spirit answered coolly. "Perhaps it is your presence that is distressing him."

"What the-are you suggesting Ryou is afraid of me?"

A disinterested shrug. "He didn't exactly sound like he was happy to see you, did he?"

Yami changed tack. "Why have you been in control of Ryou's body for all of this week?"

Another infuriating shrug. "Why not?"

Yami had had enough. "Just get out."

"Its my house, not yours-" Bakura stopped in mid-speech as something occurred to him. His host wouldn't come out, as he'd never let Yugi or Yami see what he looked like. Therefore there wasn't much point in staying up here. "…Okay then." He turned and walked downstairs. Unable to believe what had just happened, Yami went after him.

His other half, meanwhile, was trying unsuccessfully to reason with Ryou, who was showing no signs of leaving his refuse.

"Onegai, Ryou-kun. Why don't you want to come out?"

"Just go away."

"What happened? Did he do something to you?

"No!" The reply was too quick, too shrill, to be plausible.

"He did, didn't he?" Yugi coaxed. "Ryou-kun, we can look after you. He won't do anything to you while mou hitori no boku is here."

Obstinate silence.

"He's not even here," the Puzzle-holder continued quietly. "He's downstairs with the other me."

"He…he is?"

Sensing that perhaps he was beginning to get through to him, Yugi continued, "Yes. So you don't need to worry about him."

More silence.

"Ryou-kun, what did he do to you?"

Behind the door, Ryou flinched at his voice. "I…"

"Please. We can help you."
A disbelieving sound. "No one can help me. And who would want to, anyway?"

Yugi said softly, "I would."

A pause. Then there was an ominous screech of rust as the bolt was drawn back, and Ryou stepped out. Without a word, he walked over to the bed and sat down, dark haunted eyes staring almost accusingly out of his scarred face.

Yugi tried to say something, anything, but the words seemed to lodge in his throat like a fishbone. "He…he did that? To you…?"

"No." Ryou's voice was bitterly sarcastic. "I did it to myself."

The silence that followed seemed ridiculously quiet, and Yugi had the sudden urge to laugh, the sort of awful, hysterical sound you make when something horrible happens and you don't quite believe it.

"My God," he whispered at last. They weren't the most appropriate words he could have said, but it was all he could find. "My God…"

When the laugh came, it was from Ryou. "I suppose you could say that." He gave that raw, hysterical laugh again. "Stare if you want. I don't care anymore." Behind the fierce casualness he sounded close to tears.

Not saying anything, Yugi sat down next to him and hugged him tightly, feeling after a moment his rigid stance break down into something softer.

"When?" he murmured.

"Just after the d-disco." It seemed weeks and weeks ago. Ryou was sobbing now, clinging desperately to him as if Yugi was going to hand him over to his yami. And Yugi was holding onto him as well, clutching him tightly.

There was the sound of footsteps and Yami appeared in the doorway. "Aibou, did you manage to get Ryou to come out?"

In reply, both lighter halves looked up. And at the sight of Ryou, all the blood drained from Yami's face.

………….

"Tomb Robber, get up here now!"

Downstairs, Bakura yawned, stretching luxuriously like a sleeping cat. It sounded as if his host had revealed himself after all. How tiresome of him. Oh well, at least this would make his day more interesting.

He headed silently up to the bedroom, taking his time. "You require my presence, O Pharaoh?"

Yami did not waste words. "You. Did that. Explain."

Bakura glanced carelessly at his lighter half, then looked enquiringly at the Puzzle-spirit. "What exactly do you mean? As far as I know, the word 'that' could be applied to a great many things."

The blood rushed back into Yami's face so quickly it was frightening. "You sick bastard. I know you did that to Ryou. And I want to know why." His voice lashed out like a whip. "Now!"

For a moment he thought he saw the other spirit flinch. Then that cool, self-assured smile was back on his face. Bakura could tell from the way Yami's voice had been shaking that he was on the verge of losing his self-control. One spark would make the bomb explode. And he had every intention of being that spark.

"Oh, that. Why didn't you say so?" The smile was so smooth it could have been lacquered. "Prove it."

"With pleasure," Yami shot back. He knew he was being goaded but didn't care. "I'm sure Ryou was conscious for some of it, at least. And who else could have done it? Few people have the same sick pleasure in making others suffer as you do."

Bakura was slouched in the doorway, hands in pockets. He gave a mock-bow. "I'm flattered."

"Ryou, he did that to you, didn't he?" Yami said quietly.

Ryou opened his mouth-

((Yadonushi, say anything and I'll kill you.))

and closed it again. He looked up, but that was a mistake. His yami looked amused at the happenings, but as their gazes met a red light came into his eyes.

((You know I will.))

Yes, he knew all right.

"Ryou?"

The teenager looked at the ground.

"See? I didn't do it." Bakura sauntered up to his host and sat next to him. "You're not afraid of me, are you?"

He ran a pale finger almost caressingly down Ryou's face, tracing one of the scars. Ryou shivered but didn't pull away. He couldn't, not with his yami gripping his mind so hard it felt as if it would burst, like someone squeezing an orange.

"Leave him alone!" Yugi shrilled. He gave the spirit a glare that could hardly have made a flower wilt, let alone concern someone like Bakura.

The spirit in question winked at Yami, as if they somehow shared a secret. "Trained him well, I see. He acts so much like you its almost funny." He gave Ryou's mind one last twist, just enough to produce a noise, and then let go. His light almost moved away from him, but thought better of it.

"Fuck off," Yami replied tersely. It was the first time he had ever sworn in front of Yugi before.

Bakura made a show of tutting. "Tsk. I really don't think a great Pharaoh such as yourself should use such vulgar language. It doesn't suit you. Now, if you don't mind, my King, I think I'll go back into my Ring and sleep for a day or two." He vanished.

Yami made a strangled noise as the Ring appeared around Ryou's neck. Its bearer simply looked down at it and gave a resigned shrug.