I'm such a drama queen -- Well, anyways, I was in Britain for a week! It was kinda cool, though some British people wanted to beat us up o.O Strange people, if you ask me. Well. Time for Replies again! 'Kura?

Bakura: No way in hell.

Voice: Pleaaaaase?

Bakura: Oh stop the hikari-chibi-eyes. . . okay I'll do it.

Voice: Works every time

Bakura: 'Kay. Let's see.

To Sugar-Kat: Well it seems your just plain lazy. She had a good time in Britain though. -.-

Voice: . Don't you insult my yami!!

Bakura: I'm sorry, okay? Geez. . .

To magicianofblackchaos23: Well. . . I'm speechless too.

To Inverse-chan: I'd like to correct you. Mariku IS crazy. Tch. But V-chan tried and wanted to make people like him again. . .

To God: Tunnel. . . diggers. Right. Do tell, d'you dig with a spoon as in all those clichés? Man, when I was a tomb robber in Egypt I-

Voice: No one wants to hear it again, Bakura.

Bakura: -grumbles-

To snow-shadow-wolf: Your euphoria's fading! Yay! And, as V-chan muttered along, Anzu's being not entirely a main character in here, but she's quite important for the plot. There.

To Bakurasgirl1989: I can't remember having a girl but. . . anyways. Why Mariku's mean to Malik? Hadn't you ever have one of those moments when everything pisses you off? That nutcase certainly had one. .

To El: Unfortunately, Anzu's got guns already. . . she even sleeps with them stuck under her pillow.

Anzu: HEY!

Bakura: Eep. . .

Voice: Oh great. -.-() I hope no one does hate me now because of your rambling. Anyways! Flowers for the Cleaning Lady's Shrine! And more fluff in this chapter!!

Ryou was in a light slumber when the door creaked open silently. He didn't notice when a figure stepped into the room without a sound and sauntered over to the bed the boy currently was sleeping in. An exhausted sigh, a soft shift, and someone sat down on the edge of the bed. Ryou felt watched, but he didn't bother; all that mattered was the sweet, innocent dream he had right now involving Bakura and him. A slightly cold hand brushed the strands away from his forehead as moonlight washed over him. Ryou knew this kind of touch, it was loving, gentle, slightly unsure. . . he loved it, craved it, missed it so much he wanted to scream as the hand pulled away again. Slowly, he rolled onto his side, nestling against the warm body sitting there.

"'Kura. . . "

The boy felt himself being lifted up and placed on an all too familiar lap, leaning against a muscular chest, surrounded by his lover's beloved scent. He nuzzled his cheek into the soft fabric of the shirt the person was wearing.

"I'm here, little one.", came his love's deep, soothing voice from somewhere out of the shadows. Ryou knew, even if he would open his eyes, he wouldn't be able to see Bakura, which he found kinda sad; so he left them closed, content within Bakura's embrace.

"I heard yells from outside. . . "

"I'm sorry, love."

"That was Anzu yelling, wasn't she?"

"Yes, love."

"Why did she yell?"

"Because she was angry with me."

Ryou lifted his head to rest his forehead in the crook of the older one's neck, gently kissing the skin there once, emitting a low purr. "What did you do to her?"

Bakura was silent for a moment. Then, he nuzzled his face into Ryou's hair, inhaling deeply and exhaled with a sigh again. "I guess I shot an arrow right through her heart.", he stated softly. Ryou knew that Bakura couldn't ever hurt Anzu physically, so he supposed he had hurt her feelings really bad; but then again, he hadn't known Bakura was able to do that either.

"Ryou?"

"Yes?"

"Open your eyes."

The boy did what he was told and blinked a few times before staring blankly up at Bakura. He almost could feel his boyfriend's heart breaking at the sight, but a now warmed up hand touched his porcelain cheek in a gentle caress. "You're beautiful."

Bakura watched his young love smiling. "It's been a while since you told me that."

"I know. . . I'm sorry."

A short silence settled between them.

"'Kura?"

"Yes?"

"Kiss me."

And the king of thieves fulfilled the boy's request all too happily. Kissing Ryou was something he never got tired of; but then again, why would he get tired of soft pliant lips working against his, with a sweet flavour to match? Bakura wanted to never leave the boy. He wanted to live with him by his side until they both grew old and they both could die together knowing they didn't waste a single moment. The older white-haired one knew, if Ryou had to die, so would he. Then again, whatever controlled Mariku, because this clearly wasn't his old friend himself, wouldn't let Bakura die to follow his love – just to have him suffer. He broke the kiss in need for air. And Ryou just smiled at him.

"Thank you."

The boy's eyes closed again as his body relaxed, a sigh escaping his soft lips.

"I love you. . . "

Bakura held the boy close.

"I love you too.", he told the motionless body.

Yami, standing in the doorway the entire time unnoticed, sighed softly as he made his way to Ryou's room, where Yuugi currently was staying in. It seemed that the poison affected the small boy more; maybe because of his tending to get ill fast. As Yami sat on the edge of the bed, much like Bakura did, he ran his hand over Yuugi's forehead, feeling how hot and slightly clammy it was. At this moment, Yami felt as if his heart would break. This must be how Bakura had felt when he himself had killed this girl years ago that Bakura had been in love with. How Anzu must have felt at the same time, considering the girl had been like a sister to her. How everyone must've felt every time he had killed one of them. . .

But regret was too late for him. He couldn't change the fate he chose, and he didn't want to. They hated him, and it was okay. When Kristin once rejected him, he felt angry; when Anzu did, he felt heartbroken; so he'd turned to the only person available for him.

Yuugi, with his never ending crush on him.

Who loved him despite everything he'd ever done.

Who was too kind for his own good; much like Ryou was. Or Malik had been.

And what had started as a substitute turned into deep love after all those years. Yami felt guilty for using Yuugi for all the time; for taking so long to notice he loved him as well. So maybe it was worth it, every single second of it. Every day, every week, every month of hate and fury. Every hour that he hated Bakura. Every minute he hated everyone in the world. The darkness that had been consuming his heart had lit up slowly. . . but it still did.

Yami sighed again and calmly, gently caressed the boy's sweaty face, watching it scrunch up in what could be pain or nightmares as well, and finally pressed a kiss onto Yuugi's lips, not much more than a breeze, a brush of slightly rough yet velvety skin against surprisingly cold, silky ones. Deep in thought he rested his lips there, upon his beloved ones.

Flashback

"Yami? Why are you upset?"

"I am not."

"Of course you are." A timid, soft little hand reached out to rest on his own, large purple eyes staring up at him worriedly.

"What do you want.", Yami asked, in a tone that clearly said 'Go away and leave me the hell alone.' But the boy never did. Instead, he was quiet, watching Yami turn away, just to speak up again.

"Yami, I. . . "

Sighing in annoyance, the older teen stopped.

"I love you."

Complete silence. Then – "You do what?"

"I love you, Yami."

Yami knew, it took all of the courage the boy had to tell him that. On his lips formed a grin, a mischievous one. Why not take the boy when everyone else wasn't available?

Flashback End

And slowly, step by step, Yuugi had taken over Yami's cold heart; just as in a fairytale. And step by step Yami had tried to break Yuugi's; but he had failed.

"I love you, Yami."

"I know."

That was all he ever said. Until Yuugi had been ill for the first time; and Yami had found himself being worried.

"You know, Yami, I'll never leave you. . . I love you.", the boy had whispered sleepily before closing his eyes and resting.

"I. . . I love you too."

Sadly, that time Yuugi didn't hear it, for he was asleep – and Yami's signs of affection came slow, and rare.

"I love you. . . "

"I love you too, Yami."

"You should be asleep."

"I will be, Yami-chan. . . lay with me?"

And so, Yami spent his night at Yuugi's side, holding the boy close, sleeping peacefully for once.

Yep, I know, it's short and sappy. . . the plot is being built Slowly. Forgive me for taking so long. Ja!

V-chan