Disclaimer: Don't own this lovely series or any of its characters.

To all of you who reviewed; I LOVE YOU! I'm so happy you like it. And now there will be more fun. Chappie six will be finished soon too... I'm just having a little trouble whether I should end where I am now or continue the chapter a little longer. We'll see.

Zephyr-Sombra; Thank you. And here's the next update. Hop you like it!

Seren147; Heheh. Yah, he's treating Ryou nice, and no, they won't go anymore than brotherly love in this one... I had a friend that wanted me to do theifshipping in the possible sequel that's why there's no lovey-dovey tendershipping...

The Uncreative one; /beam/ Thank you! Don't worry, of course the yamis will remember them! It just may not go as smoothly as one could have wished... /grin/

Chibi B-channie; Here you are next chapter. And yes! More Bakura/Ryou fluffiness! Aren't they just so cute?

MotherCHOWGoddess; Thank you! I'm happy you think I'm doing a good job, and as for pocket universes... I didn't even think of that one, but I guess it's and apt name for it, since I don't think 'afterlife' would really look as I have described it... but that was what the 'afterlife/past' was for. Yes, isn't Fruits Basket just a great series! /grin/

Chika of the high Mts; Another update! Hope you like it!

Pharaoh Atemu's Angel; Thank you. /grin/ And yes, they will definitely spend more time together! Can't leave them in the cold so to speak, right?

Hales731; Thank you! /happy/ But really... I'm no better than anyone else. I want them together too. I just want some filling in my stories.. /grin/ That's why you don't see Atemu or Bakura remembering anything yet, or there being any implied bunny-sex. /snicker/

Chapter 5: Star Light, Star Bright

Night had descended on the desert many hours ago, Ba-khu-ra hadn't moved from his seat on the edge of the bed, looking down on the young man sleeping there. While the pale skin was strange, he was quite sure the boy was a relative, and somehow had avoided the massacre.

Looking at that soft, delicate face filled him with anger. How could anyone have thought that a human sacrifice, and even more so a whole village of people that hadn't the chance to defend themselves, used as such, could be acceptable just to gain some Items that might help against an invasion?

His mind was filled with memories of that day... slaughter, blood, metal glinting in the sun, the screams of the villagers ringing through the air, still echoing in his brain... he was so engrossed in his thoughts he almost missed the slight whimper from the lump on the bed. The unconscious growl that had escaped him quieted as he looked down at the boy in his bed and automatically one of his hands were raised and petted the thick fluff of hair. The youth quieted almost immediately and Ba-khu-ra felt a smile curve his lips upwards, it didn't matter how he tried to stifle it, it just didn't want to die. He'd protect this one, whatever it took. The boy was HIS and Ba-khu-ra took care of what was his.

He wondered vaguely at the strange way the boy had pronounced his name, but since it sounded almost as it should, he guessed it didn't matter. And how had the boy known his name? But that wasn't suspicious really... a lot of people knew his name. With a wolfish grin Ba-khu-ra shook his head and looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling. Deciding he could go out and look for tombs to raid some other night, he was very well of right now anyway, he carefully, as to not disturb the sleeping boy, laid down behind him in the bed. And that confused him too, why was he taking such great care with the youth? But the answer was easily found, and he didn't bother with denying it; because even if it turned out the boy wasn't really a lost relative, he felt a connection with him, the same strange feeling he had had since two days lurking in the back of his mind, a comforting presence. Simply put, because he was worth it.

Patience was a virtue, and Yuugi knew it. But it was hard to be patient, to not simply open the link between him and Atemu fully and give his other his own memories of their time together. But that wouldn't be the same as Atemu remembering it, or be the right thing to do either. And even if he hadn't really expected this he would have to accept it as it was and hope his other half's memories would return. With a grimace he realized this was almost a mirror of how things had been before the Dreamworld... finding the forgotten memories of his other. Except this time it wasn't his past that was missing, but his future.

Staring into the water of the pool he frowned, absently tracing the Puzzle that once again hung from his neck. He was relieved he had been allowed to keep it, but wondered how much it had cost his other half to actually leave it with a stranger (but not really), when it was so close.

He crouched down and stretched out a hand, poking one of the water lilies that floated on the pool's surface serenely, almost submerging the flower before letting it go, the pale pink flower effortlessly bobbing up to the surface again. This had all become so complicated... but when wasn't it, when one of his circle of friends (but mostly himself) was involved in something? The days had slowly trickled past, fleeting into a seamless whole, and he hadn't seen Ryou at all this past week, which worried him. Of course, he hadn't been allowed to leave the palace grounds on his own, and even then it had been hard to get Atemu to agree. He simply had to hope Ryou was with Bakura, and that nothing had happened. Someone sat down beside him, and the warm presence was both welcome and frustrating.

"Something is worrying you."

Yuugi nodded and looked out over the large pond, sunlight making the surface glitter as if covered in diamonds and crystals.

"Yeah... my friend. I haven't seen him since he disappeared..."

"I could have some guards out looking for him." Atemu said, hoping to alleviate some of the tension so apparent in his guest. Multihued spikes shuddered as Yuugi shook his head, turning to smile lopsidedly at the young Pharaoh.

"No, my-ah, Atemu. It's all right. I've a feeling he's where he should be, and your guards wouldn't be able to find him anyway. I'm just worrying. But thank you." Yuugi made a mental grimace at himself. He couldn't call Atemu "his other" since the Pharaoh didn't remember, so even if he'd given Yuugi permission to use his name, he had a hard time to adjust. Atemu was polite and pretended not to notice the almost-slips he made quite often.

"As you wish, Yuugi," Atemu smiled warmly at him then winked mischievously. "What do you say to a ride, without any guards?"

Yuugi's laugh rang out bright at that suggestion and he nodded happily, making something inside the dark-skinned man melt into warm, buttery sunlight. A place that had been empty, even if he hadn't realized it, before Yuugi had appeared. He wasn't questioning it, just taking things as they came. He was quite sure everything would clear with time.

Ryou was going insane with boredom. Bakura wouldn't let him out on his own, even if it didn't take long to get to the capital, and there was nothing to do in the immediate surroundings outside. So Ryou had been subjected to having to stay inside the complex of caves where the thief had made his home. Not that he couldn't explore, he'd already found four different exits to the desert and further into the rocky hills, but exploring could only take you so far.

"Argh!" He threw himself down on Bakura's bed with a frustrated cry and glared up at the ceiling, as if it was somehow to blame or could help him in any way and was withholding said help.

They were still sleeping in the same bed, but that was because none of the other rooms had any furniture worth a damn, and frankly, they both seemed to appreciate the closeness. That and it became quite cold in the caves at night and any shared body heat was good. Ryou liked this version of Bakura, he was caring (even if he pretended not to be), if a little overbearing, attentive in his own way (which meant he would listen to Ryou rant and rave, politely of course, about his frustration at being cooped up in the caves and then still deny Ryou to go anywhere on his own), and well, he seemed to simply give a damn. Which was much more than he'd gotten in a long time from his father. In some ways, Bakura was beginning to feel like an older brother, and that knowledge, while being slightly embarrassing (this was himself after all) was also strangely satisfying. One thing he could do without on the other hand, was Bakura's possessiveness. He hadn't had much time to being exposed to it, but what little he had seen of it promised there was much more waiting in the wings.

Heavy footsteps slapping on stone made Ryou aware of the fact that Bakura was home again and he sat up, crossing his legs. Soon enough the tall thief came into their room and carelessly unloaded what he had gotten today on a low table in the room. Ignoring these items (he'd noticed he could accept the thought of Bakura stealing, but it was increasingly hard to not say anything if he looked when Bakura threw down whatever he had stolen somewhere, so he didn't look) he looked over Bakura instead, knowing there would be no injuries, but not being able to stop himself.

The dark man fidgeted before throwing himself into a chair, looking pointedly at one of the wall hangings. Ryou fought the smile that wanted to break out; for all that Bakura was taking care of him, he seemed to have a hard time accepting someone doing the same for him, for giving a damn at all. That made Ryou cock his head, why was he living all alone for that matter? He'd heard some of his other's story, very fractured, from Yuugi and the others when they had gotten back, but he didn't have a clear picture. Besides that, he remembered that unsettling dream he'd had the first night here with Bakura. He couldn't remember much since they hadn't been very coherent, but he remembered bits and pieces very vividly. Screams, blood flowing down spears and swords, flashes of tortured faces...

"Bakura?"

His other grunted noncommittally but turned his head to look and Ryou.

"What... what happened?" Once again he hadn't been able to be very coherent, but Bakura seemed to understand. His silvery eyes, pale violet where the hair shadowed them, widened and his jaw tensed.

The silence stretched and Ryou was beginning to think that Bakura wouldn't tell him, when there was an almost imperceptible sigh from the man.

"There was a war, and apparently the Pharaoh's troops were loosing. They saw no other possibility but to create something powerful, something that would give them an edge over their enemy, allowing for victory." Here Bakura paused and gestured to the Ring hanging from its cord around Ryou's neck.

"That something was the Sennen Items." Again he paused, head bowed low, but Ryou could hear the tension, the violent anger vibrating just under the surface. And below that, the incomprehension of a child, the hurt and pain only a child can feel at having their whole world ripped away, at having to watch that world being literally chopped into pieces. Bakura's large, rough hands were shaking slightly, so he tried to hide it by clenching them into fists.

"The Pharaoh's men killed them all. Killers! Murderers!" Bakura was hissing like an angry feline, face twisted into a furious sneer. But yet again, below the anger was that pain. Ryou felt the muscles of one of his hands twitch. He wanted to go over there and hug him. But not yet. Bakura wasn't finished.

"As far as I know, I was the only one that survived. No one else... They were all..." The deep voice hitched at the end and Ryou was off the bed in an instant, hugging Bakura to himself, arms around Bakura's shoulders and head, hiding that wild mop of silvery hair against his stomach. The tomb robber froze when Ryou first hugged him, but he didn't push the slender boy away, or scream, or threaten bloody murder. Instead he didn't move, stone still and silent as a statue. Seconds ticked by until a shudder went through Ryou's other half and he hugged back, pressing himself as much as he could into the warm body in front of him.

"Sshh. I'm here. And I won't leave." And he wouldn't. Whatever happened, this only strengthened his first thought when he'd gotten back the Ring; /Never letting go again./

Two horses trotted back towards the palace through the city, this time surrounded by a group of guards. While Atemu treasured his time alone, or any time he managed to sneak off alone, and now together with Yuugi, he wasn't stupid. There had been two attempts on his life in the last four days, so now guards were following him practically everywhere. Karimu had, slightly unthinkingly, commented that it was good Yuugi was with him; they looked so alike the assassin could mistake Yuugi for the Pharaoh, especially since the slightly shorter boy was wearing the Puzzle, and hit him instead. Atemu had understandably been angry. Even if he didn't feel this strange connection with this boy, he would have been angry at the suggestion anyone take a hit that was meant for him, and particularly someone innocent. Just because Yuugi looked like him was no reason for using him as a decoy.

"Any leads as to who has sent the assassin, or where he's hiding?" Atemu had hardly jumped off his horse before questioning Mahaado who was waiting for them in the courtyard. The Priest shook his head.

"Regrettably not. We have several candidates as to who could have sent the assassin, but nothing definite, and no one suspected of being the assassin has been apprehended either."

The Pharaoh frowned and glanced up at Yuugi, who was still sitting on his own horse, and smiled down at Atemu reassuringly.

"I'm sure you'll find the responsible in time, Atemu. It will be alright." Yuugi said brightly, hiding his worry.

They had broken their daily ride short due to an oncoming storm gathering on the horizon. Atemu had been happy for the promise of rain, but had made them return since storms in the desert could be vicious if you were out in the open and not in a high place. Yuugi looked behind him to look at the storm and was surprised to see how quickly it was advancing. It was now at the edge of the city, the roiling mass of darkness spreading out over the desert behind the clouds. No wonder the people had been in such a rush when they were riding back through the city... The last rays of the sun caught on something before it disappeared behind the blue-black mass of clouds, and Yuugi frowned, what had that been..? With a gasp he realized what it was and launched out of the saddle, pushing Atemu out of the way. The first crash of thunder pierced the air as the lightning was let loose.

Ba-khu-ra hurried along the narrow path, the threat of rain almost chasing him back to the caves. He'd felt a certain satisfaction at hearing one of the guards gossiping about the assassin that was sneaking around, the stupid Pharaoh deserved it. Calming down he took the long tunnel to the door more slowly than he had the path. He hadn't wanted to get caught out in the rain, but now that he was safe under a roof so to speak, he saw no reason in hurrying. And since their home (strange how quickly he had begun to think of the complex of rooms in the caves as his and Ryou's) was on high ground they had nothing to worry about.

He didn't know why, but he felt his steps quicken the further he got inside the complex, he couldn't put his finger on it, but something was wrong...

"Ryou? Where are you?"

The room was empty. The bed had been as neatly made as it could be done, but the albino boy himself was nowhere in sight. He had gotten used to Ryou being in their bedroom when he came home, since this was the most 'lived in' room in the whole complex. Swallowing the nervousness he could feel bubbling up he shook his head. Ryou could be out in the complex exploring for all he knew, why was he so worried?

But searching through the corridors and rooms yielded nothing. /The brat better not have decided to suddenly go out today of all days!/ But the question was still looming in hismind; where was Ryou? Thunder echoed through from the outside, the sound being carriedinside from the air-vents in the room he was in. /He couldn't... Where is he!?/ Anotherflash of light, peal of thunder, and this time followed by the sound of rain falling harshly. Apparently the wind was quite violent since he could feel a few drops being splattered onto his face. Suddenly anger and panic bubbled up all at once and Ba-khu-raturned around, running for one of the exits. To be more specific the one that led up to the "roof" of the complex, or the top of the hill the caves where hidden in.

/WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU RYOU!?/

Aaaannnd, that's it for this time! Hope you liked it!

Say, does anyone remember the three beings in the Shadow Realm from the first chapter? Anyone would like to try and guess who they are? I tried to make it as clear as possible without giving anything away, but I'm not sure I managed. And once again; thanks to all of you who reviews and read my fic!