A/N: I don't think I mentioned this before, but Ryou, Yugi and Malik are all 16 in this story. So are Will and Lyra. I appreciate the last two were only thirteen in Northern Lights, but I couldn't really have 16 year olds meeting up with 13 year olds. It wouldn't really work. In the anime, I'm almost certain Ryou, Yugi, Malik, Jounouchi, Honda, Anzu and Kaiba (yes, he IS the same age as Yugi) are all 16/17. As Ryou's birthday is on September 2nd, and Malik's is on December 23rd, those two are probably 17 already. But in this fic they are all 16. It sort of makes things easier. Oh, and correct me if I'm wrong, but in His Dark Materials I don't think Phillip Pullman makes any references as to when Lyra or Will's birthdays are. He just gives their ages.

Oh, and the yamis are all 3000 (they changed it to 5000 in the dub, damn them! Why? Why change it?) with the exception of Yami Malik, who is 6. This is because Yami Malik came into being when Malik was 10. (I guess Yami Malik has a mental age of a 6 year old…? Heh heh) But he's still in Malik's body, so he is sort of 16 too. Well, when you're a spirit age doesn't really matter, right? (shrug) You're immortal. Big deal.

Oh, one more thing: I was gazing into space the other day, when I suddenly got the most AMAZING idea for a sequel!!! Yes, that's right – after this has finished and I've recovered from the shock of writing what will probably be a 70,000-words story, I will take up the task of writing NORTHERN DARKS 2!!! (Although, obviously, it won't be called Northern Darks 2.) It was kind of scary – I was thinking back to my holiday in Spain a little while ago, and imagining Ryou in the same situation, when suddenly a sole image popped into my head, bringing with it about half of (probably) 50,000 story. Wow. I grabbed all the paper I could find, (earning me strange looks from my family) and started jotting notes. I've got over twenty sides (of aprox 300 words per side) of notes, and it grows bigger every day. And no, just because it was triggered by thinking about Spain doesn't mean it will feature Ryou or anyone else in Spain. Far from it. I'm going to be changing the 'original' (inverted commas used because I've come up three original endings for Northern Darks during the total course of my writing.) ending a little bit, to pave the way for the sequel, but, fear not, for it will be a satisfying ending nonetheless. Ooooh, I can't wait to start writing the sequel. Although I guess it will have to wait until I've finished Northern Darks first…

Don't forget to review! I really do love getting reviews. They make me so happy. Also, it means my yami is happy too, which is always a good thing seeing as it doesn't happen very often.

Warnings: bad language, non-yaoi fluff

Konnichiwa: Good day/Hello

Ouija Board: DEAT

Chapter Eighteen: In which everyone catches up on their sleep.

Yugi was the first to wake the next morning. Deciding not to wake the others, he sat idly on top of his sleeping bag and started a thumb-twiddling contest with himself.

Yay! I won!

He smiled contentedly, the falsely reassuring warmth of the Puzzle just penetrating his jumper.

…………

At thirty-eight minutes past ten the next of the group began to stir. Ryou sat up groggily and yawned, stretching his arms above his head. Then he noticed Yugi was awake and his posture became slightly more calculating.

"Konnichiwa Ryou! Did you sleep well?" Never one to hold a grudge, Yugi was curious as to whether Ryou would remember anything of what he had done the previous night.

The Ring-holder surveyed him flatly. "Not particularly. And you?"

Yugi giggled, slightly nervously. "You know, its funny you should say that. Because last night I and the rest of the group had the strangest experience-"

Ryou sat up slightly straighter. "Tell me about it."

…………

Will woke up about fifteen minutes later, to find Kirjava had lodged herself under his shirt and refused to come out. After a few seconds of tugging he prised her away, and looked up for the first time. Immediately he was hit by the sight of Ryou and Yugi sitting together, the latter chattering away at an amazing speed. He couldn't see Ryou's expression, and suddenly found that a part of him didn't want to.

"M-Morning Ryou."

The teenager looked at him coldly for a moment, before turning back to Yugi. "Go on." There was something in his expression that Will didn't like, something in the way his eyes had swept over him, assessing and then dismissing him. And that frosty manner was totally out of character. Ryou was normally one of the politest people he had ever met.

Will pulled his feet out of his sleeping-bag, accidentally knocking Malik as he did so. "Sorry."

"'S okay," the Egyptian mumbled drowsily. He looked around sleepily, and saw Ryou. "…Oh Ra!"

Ryou turned enquiringly, and his face was that of the Ryou they were all used to – innocent, soft, nice. But as Will studied his face he saw something new leap into his eyes, just for a moment. A slight tinge of red, a slight narrowing of the eyes. Then it was gone. But now he was on his guard.

"G-Get away from me!" Malik backed away as far as possible from Ryou, his eyes so wide they took up nearly half his face. "Don't come near me!"

"What are you talking about?"

If he hadn't seen the way the teenager's eyes had flickered red, Will would have sworn that astonishment was genuine.

"Don't give me that! You're not coming anywhere near me! I know how much you hate me!"

The Ring holder's tone was puzzled. "Why would I hate you?"

"…Because…because I watched Bakura hurt you all those times, and never did anything about it. Except once."

Ryou was silent for a long time. Everyone was watching him. Lyra had woken up, and was staring at him with bated breath.

Eventually he said slowly, "Yes. That seems like a good reason for me to hate you."

The Egyptian retreated even further. Ryou's eyes never left him. There was a definite redness to them now, and Will could tell that he wasn't the only person who had noticed. Lyra was staring at Ryou with the look of someone analysing something, and Will suddenly remembered she had been going to tell him something last night. Her expression was thoughtful, and there was an uncharacteristic look of compassion on her face. Not pity, not quite, but something very near it.

Bakura split off, his face a mask of anger. "Ryou, get away from him."

Will was silently shocked to see how much the spirit had deteriorated during the night. He was even thinner than usual, as if he were literally wasting away, and in his white face his eyes were the only part of him that still seemed to be alive. Although, of course, he was already dead. So easy to forget, especially now.

Cue innocent look from Ryou. "Hello yami. Did you sleep well?"

"No shit," Bakura snapped.

"We are grumpy this morning, aren't we? I suppose spending the night in the Shadow Realm is enough to make someone grouchy."

"Ryou, if you continue to act as if nothing is happening I am going to hit you. You do all those things to Malik and everyone else, and then expect me to be all nice to you?"

A cool shrug. "I was asleep. I couldn't help what I was doing."

"Oh no. That's not going to let you off. You were awake during the last of it. I know you were."

"And your point is?"

"You chose to do those things. That's a lot different from doing them while asleep."

"Really? I'm afraid I don't see any difference."

Bakura lost it. "Stop acting like-like you're some sort of victim! You're being so Ra-damned righteous over all this, acting as if we drove you to it!"

"But you did," Ryou answered softly. "And you know I'm right, which is why you're so angry, and you don't like the fact that I'm more powerful than you."

"That," the Ring-spirit pronounced heatedly, "is bullshit. I don't give a damn about how much more powerful you are."

"You're lying," Ryou stated simply. "I can feel it."

"Oh? And will you feel it if I send you to the Shadow Realm? Because I want you to. I want you to feel the same amount of pain that you've caused Malik."

"Been there, felt that. And I could be getting very angry right now about the way you're shouting at me. But I won't. After all, it must be very difficult for you – having someone to let your stress out on for a year and then having them turn round and show you just how much you've hurt them. I understand that."

"That's shit. You don't understand me. You don't understand me at all."

"Unfortunately, I do. It comes with being connected to you. An unfortunate fact, but one which I am beginning to learn how to use to my advantage."

"Fine. Go ahead. Beat me up. See if I care."

"No. I refuse to lower myself to your standards."

Bakura's tone was soaked in disgust. "Ryou, if you think that will serve as an excuse then you've got another thing coming. There's another reason you won't demonstrate your powers right now, isn't there? Because you don't know if you can. You can't control them. In fact, they're practically controlling you."

Ryou was shaking in rage. "So you think I can't control them? You're wrong. I can control them just fine. And I may be lacking in practice, but I more than make up for that in sheer power. You couldn't stand up to me even if you wanted to." Flames erupted around his body, and his eyes took on that familiar fiendish scarlet glow.

"Bullshit," Bakura spat out.

The blast threw him backwards to the ground. "How many times do I have to prove it to you, yami?"

The spirit struggled slowly to his feet. "Fuck you."

"Whatever. Parasite."

Bakura flinched.

"Truth hurts, hmm?"

"…You know what?" the yami said suddenly. "I liked the old Ryou."

"There wasn't an old Ryou. There was just your yadonushi. This is Ryou."

"No. This isn't Ryou. Not the one I knew."

"You never knew me, my little parasite."

"I did, actually. More than you might think. Not the terrified yadonushi who submitted to every single beating because I had convinced him he deserved it. But the one who looked at me and trusted me; the one who asked me to stay out of the Ring so he could know I was still there; the one who fell asleep in my lap - that was the real Ryou."

"Shut up."

"It was, wasn't it?" Bakura pressed. "I don't know what those shadow powers of yours are doing to you, but you aren't acting like Ryou. You're acting like a crazed megalomaniac who's just been on a killing spree and is in denial about it."

"Shut up!" The flames blazed with renewed vigour around Ryou, but his eyes were still brown. For a moment he still looked angry, then a shadow of uncertainty crossed his face.

"See?" his yami said softly. "It isn't your fault you can't control them. But every time you get angry, or upset, or frightened, they'll come out, and unless you're very lucky you won't be able to do anything with them."

Ryou didn't say anything. Bakura reached out, very gently, feeling for the part of his light's mind that would make these shadow-fires vanish. He tugged, and the flames disappeared.

Ryou just stood there, his body shaking. He stared at his yami through eyes that were suddenly wide and frightened. His yami looked back, and something softened in his expression.

(…Do you h-hate me?)

((No.))

Bakura came up to him, very slowly, and hugged him. Ryou's body went limp in his arms.

(I…I'm sorry…)

((Don't be. It was my fault anyway. But I think we're even now.))

His light pulled back a little, a very small smile on his face. (…Yes. I think we are.) He hugged him tighter.

Finally they broke apart, each with a small amount of embarrassment. Bakura was silently horrified that he had just been what could be interpreted as 'soppy'; Ryou was just blushing slightly from the fact that everyone had been watching. But both had secretly quite enjoyed it.

Feeling more than a bit drained from all the shouting, Bakura sat down shakily on the grass. Ryou followed suit, and soon the entire group had sat down. The general air was one of slight uncertainty, but no fear, which was an improvement on five minutes ago. Malik was still eyeing Ryou somewhat apprehensively, but sat in a more-or-less placidly fashion on Bakura's other side.

"Um," Will began hesitantly.

"I agree," Bakura said promptly, producing a laugh from everyone.

"…Pan, what was Lyra going to tell us last night?" The words were uttered in a hushed tone, as Kirjava communicated quietly with Pantalaimon. Although it was like speaking into a telephone, really, because Will and Lyra could still hear what was going on.

"She's got an idea as to how we can save the yamis," Pan explained almost inaudibly. "But she's reluctant to say anything because she doesn't know if it will work. For that matter, I'm doubtful as well. It seems like a very long shot."

"What is it?"

"…Lyra thinks we could go north, and try and meet up with Serafina Pekkala and the rest of her clan. They're witches, so they might know how to get Ryou, Malik and Yugi back into their world. Failing that, they might be able to do something to counteract the effects of them being in a foreign world for so long, so that would at least give us more time to come up with a solution."

The reply was an unconvinced pause. "…I don't think that would work. And, like you said, it's a very long shot. What happens if they don't have an answer? Or if we can't find the witches? Or even if we don't get there in time? We only have until tomorrow night, you know."

"I am aware of that. But it's a possibility, isn't it? And far better than doing nothing. At least if we try we'll have a chance."

"Hang on." Silence as Kirjava communicated with her human. "Will is concerned about the effect it will have on them if we don't succeed. It would be cruel to raise their hopes and then dash them again."

"But they would have some hope. If we stay here then nothing will happen. Also…Lyra wants to ask the witches if they know anything about the whereabouts of the alethiometer. It was stolen by a bird, and all witches' daemons are birds, so there's a good chance that they might have seen it."

"I suppose- wait a moment. This is just about what Lyra wants now, isn't it?"

"How can you say that?" Pan demanded. "Lyra would never be that selfish. Besides, once we have the alethiometer we can find out the solution to the yamis dying. Have you forgotten that?"

"Mmm. Perhaps I have." Then, in an amused tone: "You feel bound to defend your human."

"Of course," Pan answered with some anger.

"Interesting. I don't mean that I disagree with it. Perhaps, as I have been with Will for far less time than you have with Lyra, I simply feel less loyalty towards him." Kirjava began to preen her temporary feathers.

"Then you'd better discover this loyalty extremely quickly," Pan snapped, bristling.

Kirjava moved swiftly out of reach of his cat claws. "Calm yourself."

The other daemon growled threateningly, but continued the original conversation with – "So are we going to tell them or not?"

"I think not. There doesn't seem to be much point in traipsing all over to the godforsaken north just so we might meet up with these witches who might be able to produce a cure or might be able to tell us the whereabouts of the alethiometer."

"And you call Lyra selfish?" Pan exclaimed in incredulous exasperation. "I don't see why you even care about the amount of walking that will have to be done, seeing as you can simply sit on Will's shoulder the whole way!"

"That is besides the point."

"What does Will think?"

In answer, the black-haired teenager met Lyra's eyes. Yes, he mouthed.

"See? See?" Pan repeated aggressively, glowering at Kirjava. "He agrees with us."

"I am not answering you."

"You just did!"

"I'm not listening."

Pan dived at the nightingale daemon, who promptly began a fox and knocked him contemptuously away.

"Oh for God's sake!" Lyra vociferated aloud. She pulled her daemon to her, careful not to so much as touch a hair on Kirjava's vulpine head. "The answer was yes. Now stop fighting over it."

"Stop fighting over what?" Yugi asked curiously. He looked over from his conversation with Malik, repeating, "what are they fighting over?"

Kirjava gave Pantalaimon a look that clearly and smugly said - now look what you've done. Pan ignored her.

Lyra sighed. I suppose it's as good a time to tell them as any. "I…have an idea as to how we might be able to save the yamis. I said might," she added, as the hope leapt into Yugi's face. "There's a strong possibility it won't work."

The Puzzle-holder shook his head impatiently. "Fine, fine. Now what is it?"

"…I thought we could go north and try to meet up with Serafina Pekkala and her clan. After all, they're witches, so they should be able to help. And even if they can't, they'll almost certainly know where the alethiometer is. That knew how to help the yamis."

Silence. She thought she saw disappointment in Yugi's eyes, and felt suddenly bad for raising their hopes when there was so little chance of the hope being fulfilled.

Eventually someone spoke, but it wasn't Yugi. "I know this probably sounds really selfish, but if our yamis die does that mean we die too?" Malik questioned.

Will looked thoughtful. "That's a good question."

"Well we can't survive without our daemons," Lyra stated with a troubled look on her face. "Like in my world, if someone's daemon gets shot or something then the person dies too. But you three have only had yamis relatively recently, haven't you? So maybe it doesn't make any difference."

"Not if the souls have been fused together." Bakura spoke slowly, fighting the nausea clawing its way up his throat. "The idea is that the light and dark halves together make one person. You three were fine when you left us on the banks of the world of the Dead, because we were still alive. Although it probably didn't feel particularly pleasant."

Malik recalled the empty feeling in his mind without his yami, and felt like yelling with exasperation. I can barely live with him but I can't live without him? Great.

"In any case," Yugi supplied, "it doesn't matter whether we can live without them or not, because we aren't going to find out. We're going to find the witches and they'll tell us where the alethiometer is and help us get back into our world, and that's that."

"You make it sound so straightforward," Malik remarked dryly, a hint of sardonic amusement creeping into his tone.

"That's because it is," Yugi insisted. "All we need to do is a bit of walking. Um…how far…?" he added as an afterthought.

"Dunno," Lyra answered with a shrug. "I think it's quite far. But we're pretty far north anyway, I think. Will just needs to cut a way into my world and off we go. I might recognise some of the places we pass, as well."

"Wha- so you don't actually know exactly where we'd be going?" Malik queried in disbelief. "Just 'up north'?"

"Uh…kinda, yeah."

"Oh this is great. Just great. So what happens if we go to the wrong bit of north? We could get lost in the arctic or something."

"Not unless you're planning on crossing the Arctic Ocean," Will smirked.

"Won't…won't it be a bit cold?" Yugi questioned tentatively. "I mean, we're not all exactly wearing thick jumpers." He looked pointedly at Malik in his midriff-baring top, and the teenager scowled.

"Like I said, it's just an idea," Lyra snapped defensively. "And I don't exactly hear any of you lot coming up with anything." The lack of sleep was obviously starting to tell.

"We didn't mean to seem rude," Yugi amended hastily. "And I think it's quite a good idea. Let's just give it a try, shall we?"

………

"We've been wading through this stuff for five hours! I think that counts as 'giving it a try'! Now can we turn back?!"

"If you don't stop complaining I'll-" Will broke off rather lamely, unable to think of a suitable threat.

They had covered over twelve kilometres, mostly through forest, and Yugi had even been starting to enjoy the scenery, and the exercise. This was before it had started to snow. Trudging through the snow which had previously been ankle-deep and was now up to their knees was not an experience anyone was savouring. It was like forcing their way through miles and miles of custard. Thick, unyielding custard which almost seemed to endeavour to pull them back. Yugi, being several inches shorter than everyone else, was practically drowning in it and several times Ryou and Will, being directly in front and behind him respectively, had had to stop and literally pull him out.

It wasn't the first complaint Malik had given voice to, nor indeed the second. He had started as soon as the weather deteriorated and was now in full flow, ranting about the 'crappy excuse for snow' and how one of the others had obviously offended Ra almost beyond imagining or they wouldn't be in this mess. Yugi and Ryou were used to the way Malik gave vent to things that annoyed him, and had long ago learnt to block him out at times like this, his voice fading to an almost pleasant drone in the depths of their ears. But Lyra and Will weren't such veterans, and the Egyptian's relentless yelling was starting to annoy them.

"You'll what? Because I don't give a damn about what you do as long as you make this stupid snow stop! Even better, just say we can turn back!"

"That defeats the whole object of starting out!" Will shouted back. The wind was rising, hurling itself against the plains with unexplainable ferocity, and it was getting harder to make yourself heard clearly. It was even harder to see where you were going. Before the wind had started the view had been magnificent - trees keening under the sheer mass of snow, the forest around them fully decked out in its icy splendour. It looked like something cut out of a Christmas card, only a thousand times more beautiful. Now the wind whipped across their faces, making their eyes water and their mouths dry.

They were cold too, which wasn't doing anything for Malik's temper. Resorting to wrapping the blankets they normally kept for sleeping around their frozen bodies, the cold found its way through every little gap in the fibres. Lyra was by far the best off. She wore the furs Farder Coram and John Faa had bought for her several months ago – a parka made of reindeer skin, as reindeer hair is hollow and is also an excellent insulator, with the hood lined in wolverine fur. Her boots were soled with the skin of the bearded seal, which was as tough as walrus-hide, but lighter. Although they hadn't been washed in months and stank, they kept the warmth in. Will too was slightly better off than the three Item holders – although he didn't had clothes of fur, Kirjava was coiled around his waist as a mink, warming his body.

Malik was possibly the worst off, although Ryou came a close second. When you have grown up in Egypt, where the sun blazes throughout the entire day and the temperature is always upwards of thirty degrees Celsius, and then you experience snow, you would be forgiven for wanting the stuff to be made illegal. And when there is a frozen piece of gold hanging around your neck which you can't take off, the cold has a special way of coursing through your entire body, as if it is turning your veins to ice.

The Ring and Rod holders shivered their way onwards, heads bowed under the wind, both willing to give up several body organs for the sake of a cup of nice hot chocolate. Lyra, almost uncomfortably warm in her furs, was humming cheerfully to herself. It was definitely a good thing that no one could hear her, (thanks to the gale blowing around them) or they would probably have killed her for being so happy.

When the wind force had risen to monstrous levels and it was clearly ridiculous to think they would get anywhere, Will cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled, "Shall…we…stop?"

"Yes!" came the instant reply from Malik.

"Anyone else apart from Malik want to stop?"

"Yes!" Yugi called hastily.

"Okay then, we'll take a break!" Will paused and looked around. Um, there kind of aren't any benches or anything, so how…?

Malik pulled out the Millennium Rod, and flames burst into life around him, melting the snow to reveal limp grass. There were cheers from the others, and the two daemons transformed into polar bears, sheltering them all from some of the wind's onslaught. The snow was also lessening, a little.

Ryou sat down slowly, holding the Ring in his hands. It had frozen solid, resembling little more than a lump of ice, and it looked almost as if there was a giant frozen snowball hanging around his neck. He thought for a moment, then screwed up his eyes and concentrated. The ice immediately dissolved, running down the flat gold surface to form a miserable puddle at his feet. He looked around nervously, feeling suddenly guilty, but no one seemed to have noticed. Although he wasn't aware of it, Yami stared at him thoughtfully through Yugi's eyes.

There didn't seem to be much point in getting too settled, so the group crouched uncertainly behind the shielding bulk of the two daemons, hopping from one foot to the other in vain attempts to keep warm.

"…So, anyone read any good books lately?"

"Malik!"

"I'm only trying to make conversation. It isn't my fault if you're in a bad mood."

"I'm not in a bad mood!" Will protested.

"Uh huh. Sure you aren't."

Before Will attempted to hit him, Yami spilt off, saying soothingly, "don't worry about him. He's only winding you up in an attempt to distract everyone from the fact that he's in a foul mood himself."

"I'm not in a foul mood!"

Everyone snickered behind their hands, and Malik let loose a growl. Yami smiled to himself, while trying to suppress a shiver as his body reacted to the cold. Yugi saw it, and at once offered him a corner of the blanket. The spirit smiled again, more sadly, and shook his head at him in reply.

Deciding it would be more productive to wait until the wind had abated before moving on, Will got out a packet of matches and nearly the last of the firewood from his rucksack, and tried to light a fire. Needless to say, thanks to the 'breeze' around them he didn't have much success. When he was about to use the second-to-last match, Ryou put out a hand and signalled for him to stop. He stared at the untidy offering of firewood, and a red film spread over his eyes like a dye. Something flickered deep within the pile, and within a few moments a small flame danced, licking with quickly increasing enthusiasm at the dry branches. It grew almost alarming quickly, and soon a strong fire blazed merrily, eating the wood up with barely restrained greed.

Will blinked. "…Wow. Um, thanks."

No one else said anything. A few eyes slid over to Ryou, and instantly snapped back again. Ryou blushed and looked away, one hand habitually clutching the Ring.

They're all treating him like he's some sort of freak, Yami thought. He was almost surprised at how indignant he was. And he's so embarrassed about his powers. He doesn't even know how to use them properly, and he can still set something alight just by thinking about it.

After the kettle had boiled, Will got out the cocoa powder and passed around mugs of hot chocolate for everyone. Then, as the wind had died down to barely a murmur of a breeze, although the air was still heavy with cold, they reluctantly got up and continued their journey.

It was easier going now, although that could have been from the lack of wind, the rest, the hot chocolate, or just the fact that now they could actually see where they were going. Although there was still the small problem that they didn't know exactly where they were supposed to be going, as Malik constantly reminded them every five minutes. Yami wasn't sure how someone who had managed to get through the first sixteen years of his life in an incredible state of self-delusion could still manage to find flaws in absolutely anything. Perhaps it was just one of those things.

Ryou was walking quietly behind, staring at the ground, saying and doing nothing in the hope of not attracting any more attention to himself. He was silently berating himself for using his powers again in front of everyone; after all, it was just giving them another reason to shun him. Not that he totally resented this – he was secretly terrified of hurting anyone again as he had done last night. His thoughts were beginning to revert to the type from when his yami had still abused him – the feeling that, if he distanced himself from the group as much as possible, he could at least make sure no one else got hurt.

Without seeming to, Yami let his pace lessen, so that the others overtook him and he was walking next to Ryou. The teenager seemed unaware of his presence, and when Yami uttered his name he started and looked up in astonishment.

"…Oh. Hello." A shadow of something that might have been fear crossed his face. Not fear of Yami, but for him. Who would know what would happen if he got too close? He might end up sending him to the Shadow Realm, or worse.

"Konnichiwa." He saw a brief smile appear at the familiar language, then the light stared back down at his feet. Making his voice gentle, he said softly, "Ryou, why do you feel so bad about having shadow powers?"

Blushing at the fact that his thoughts had been so easily guessed, Ryou muttered something unintelligible and studied the ground.

"No one hates you for what you did last night," the spirit continued quietly.

His whole face aflame now, the teenager looked up fearfully. This was worse than having the Millennium Rod prying through your mind. Were his thoughts so betrayed in his face that Yami could just look at him and know what he was thinking?

"Y-You don't know that."

"Yes I do. Why would any of us blame you for something which wasn't your fault?"

"It was my fault," Ryou whispered. "I-I was awake for some of it. I knew what I was doing."

"But you couldn't have stopped, could you?"

"…No." The word was said reluctantly.

"Exactly. It was like they were using you, wasn't it? And you couldn't stop them, and part of the reason for that was that deep down you didn't want to stop them?"

"Yes!" The words were piling out now, as Ryou poured out his feelings to someone who seemed to understand them. "It was like that. And I knew I was hurting people, like my y-yami, only I didn't want to stop because I wanted to hurt him. I didn't want to at first, but then it was like my powers were showing me that I could hurt him, although I'd never been able to before. It was like an excuse to carry on, because I sort of believed that I had a right to do it and if I felt reluctant I had that excuse to fall back on – that he deserved it. It…it was like being drunk. I mean, I've never been drunk before, but I think I know how it feels. Like you've always wanted to do something and now seems like a great time to do it, and if people get angry at you for acting how they don't want you to act then you can just say that you're drunk, and can therefore do whatever you want. It-it was a bit like that."

"I see," Yami said slowly. It had come as a bit of a shock to hear Ryou say all that in one go. He wasn't generally a talkative person. "And that shows that it wasn't really your fault, doesn't it? It was like you were drunk on your shadow powers."

"Like I was intoxicated," Ryou said with a small smile. "It feels weird to say that, but it was true. It was a great feeling. Like I could do absolutely anything I wanted, and no one could stop me."

And we couldn't," the Puzzle-spirit mused. He really could have done anything he wanted. And he did, didn't he?

"So why are you distancing yourself from everyone, then?"

The smile vanished from Ryou's face as if it had been wiped off with a blackboard rubber. "…I…I just don't want it to happen again. And I don't want to hurt anyone like I did before."

"Ryou, if you act as if you're a stranger then everyone will treat you like one. And that means you don't talk to anyone which, may I add, is the reason last night's events happened. You kept everything pent up inside, which was why you sleepwalked. And when that happened your mind was more relaxed, so it was easier for your shadow powers to come to the surface. You can't avoid everyone when we're in a tight group like this, so why waste your time? They just want to treat you like you're a normal person. Which you are anyway, despite the stuff you can do."

"I…guess," the light said doubtfully.

"Look, no one enjoys being on their own all the time. So don't be." I don't think you can get a blunter sentence than that.

"…Mmm. I suppose."

"So you'll stop distancing yourself?"

"I…I'll try."

"Glad to hear it."

Ryou hesitated, then hugged him. "Thank you. For…for being so nice. And understanding."

"Its okay." Yami smiled and hugged him back. After a moment, he looked up and exclaimed, "Ra, look how far behind we are! We'd better hurry and catch up, or they'll start to wonder what happened to us."

The two broke into a run, the newly settled snow crunching underfoot.

……….

Early evening found them stopping to set up camp and make supper. The dusky light cast murky shadows over their faces, and even longer ones onto the ground. They were the sort that make young children want to jump on the heads of their neighbours' shadows, in one of those strange playground games only they understand and the adults scoff at, while secretly feeling a strange sense of loss at how out of tune they are with their youth.

Will had discovered some paper in his rucksack, and Yugi was teaching him the Japanese art of origami. He watched in fascination as Yugi folded the corner and deftly flipped it over, and then there was an elephant sitting in his palm.

"Cool!"

There were grins from Malik and Ryou at his wonder.

"Could you do it again? Only more slowly, so I can see how to do it?"

"Sure." Patiently the Puzzle-holder repeated his actions, while explaining what he was doing. Then he tore the paper in half, giving a piece to Will.

Lyra was scanning the sky, brow furrowed.

"What are you looking for?" Ryou asked her curiously.

"Witches," she replied shortly. "I want to know how far north we are."

"Oh." He wilted slightly at her frosty tone, withdrawing into himself and staring down at the ground.

Will and Yugi had two baby paper elephants in front of them and were making them bash into each other like toy soldiers. Malik was staring at the ground in the same way as Ryou. Usually during times like this he would be chatting to Bakura, but the Ring-spirit had stayed inside his Item for the entire day and Malik didn't really feel like asking Ryou if his other was awake or anything. He hadn't actually exchanged a single word with the Ring-bearer all day, apart from his terrified babblings during the morning. Despite the way Bakura had been so certain that Ryou was 'normal' now, Malik still felt nervous around him. And even if he did try and talk to him, what was he going to say? After all, Ryou still hated him, right?

Ryou, positive that Malik was making a point of not talking to him, assumed it was because of all the things he had done to him last night and lapsed into miserable silence.

Lyra sighed and shook her head at Pan. "Guess we're not far enough north yet," she whispered, holding him against her face for warmth and added privacy. "And we've walked so far…"

He licked her face, the way he always did when he sensed she needed comforting or reassuring. "We'll get to the Witches tomorrow, don't worry."

"There's so little time," she murmured fiercely. "We don't even know how much of tomorrow they have left."

With no words of consoling left, all he could do was press himself further against her.

Kirjava suddenly let out a trumpeting sound. It caused everyone to look around in surprise, before they registered the fact that she had currently taken the form of a baby elephant to join in with Yugi and Will's game.

"Wow. I didn't know I could make that sound," she remarked casually.

Will tugged on one of her flapping ears. "What did you do that for?"

"Because there's a rainbow or something behind those trees."

"Rainbow? Uh huh, I'll buy that. There's been no rain here for ages."

"How would you know? We've only been in Lyra's world a few hours. Anyway, never mind that, just look!"

He sighed, obligingly cranking his neck in the direction she indicated with her oversized trunk. His expression immediately turned to one of awe.

"Cool! What is that?"

Malik looked up. "…I don't think it's a rainbow."

"Duh. Let's go closer!" Always one to plunge into danger, Lyra got up and promptly ran towards the strange phenomenon, Pan flapping desperately behind her in an attempt to keep up.

…………

"Oh my God," Yugi whispered. "It's beautiful. …But what is it?"

Lyra let out an excited squeal, like the person at the back of the class who suddenly knows the answer. "I saw them before! When I was with John Faa and Iorek. They're the Northern Lights!"

They seemed to have passed from 'it' into 'them', Ryou thought wryly to himself.

"Neat name. But what are these Northern Light thingies?" Yugi asked impatiently.

"I…um…wait, I do know, honest." Lyra wracked her brains for a moment. "Ah. I've got it. Charged particles. Lots of them, and very strong. They cause a…luminous radiation when they interact with the atmosphere."

"Ooooookay. Now why didn't I know that?" Malik raised an eyebrow at her. "'Luminous radiation'?" he quoted. "Where did that come from?"

"I heard my father say it," Lyra said defensively.

"Who is he? A scientist or something?"

"Uh…yeah, kind of. His name is Lord Asriel, not that would mean much to any of you."

"Nope." Malik shrugged and turned back to stare at this thing which Lyra called the Northern Lights. It was definitely pretty, anyway. Not that 'pretty' really did it justice. Looping swirls of colour, the emerald and jade-greens and rose-pinks falling over themselves and into each other, like an artist who has given up and just splatted a load of colour onto his paper, only to find the watery blends of colours rather pleasing after all. It was almost like a curtain hanging on invisible hooks which someone had thrown a few pots of paint at, only the hues and tints of indigo and chrome were far too well blended to be anything created abstractly.

There was a slight tugging feeling at his chest, and he automatically put a hand up, but he had barely raised it before the sensation dissolved.

Just as captivated as the rest of them, beside him Yugi heard Ryou murmur, "that would be so wonderful to try and paint." He remembered suddenly that Ryou like art, and indeed the expression on his face, although stamped with the same feelings of reverence as everyone else, also held the suggestion of a child being denied a long-promised treat. Ryou was in heaven and hell at the same time, having access to this wonderful happening, yet not possessing anything to paint it with.

At last, when the wonder finally began to wear off and they were so frozen they couldn't move, it seemed like a good time to get back to their sleeping bags and go to bed.

Lyra was smiling as they walked back, and when asked why explained: "the last time I saw the Northern Lights we were really far north! Which means we must have come farther than we thought!"

Yugi and Ryou also walked back with smiles on their faces.

"I think we have that in my world as well," Will offered to the blond girl. "Only we call it the 'Aurora Borealis' or something like that."

"I prefer 'Northern Lights.' Its much easier to pronounce."

"It's strange how similar our worlds have turned out to be, isn't it? Maybe we should ask Malik or Yugi or Ryou if they have that in their world as well."

"Yeah, okay. Will, sometime you have to come and stay in my world. I mean properly, not like this. I've got so many things I have to show you. Like Jordan College, and the gyptians, and the daemons. I bet you'll find it so weird, being in a place where everyone has daemons."

"Probably." He glanced at her as he spoke, and was suddenly struck by the realisation that he'd never looked at her properly before. The high cheekbones, brows naturally delicate, and hair falling away and around her face, the darkish-blond hue almost mousy for want of washing. And yet it didn't matter. As he scrutinised her he realised that she was actually –

What? Actually what? He looked down, anywhere, just away, and realised his daemon was staring at Pan, with a look that was considerably softer than any expression he'd seen on her face before.

"You feel it too?" he whispered to her.

"Feel what?" she murmured back. Her voice sound distressed, distracted, yet somehow content. How could so many conflicting emotions be present in one voice? "At least, I feel it, but I don't know what I'm feeling."

Unaware of her observers, Lyra walked easily along the path, feet automatically stepping over small stones and avoiding the bigger ones.

………

As they reached their camp, Will suddenly blinked and said in some disbelief, "…Isn't that…?" He pointed uncertainly to a strand of blond hair sticking out from one of the blankets.

The rest of the group stared.

Eventually, after much hesitation, Malik crossed over to what he had first thought was just a large lump in the blankets, nudged it cautiously with his trainer and ventured, "…Yami? Is that you?"

"…Yes. And you'd better having one hell of a good reason for waking me up." The spirit pulled the blanket more tightly over his head.

"Um…" Uncertainly, Malik looked up at the others. They were simply standing there, mouths hanging open, and he could see he wouldn't be getting much help. (Why are you out? You're supposed to be in your soul room.)

((Because I'm cold and this blanket is the only thing keeping me warm. Also, my soul room smells like shit and I'm fed up with being in it.))

(But…but I don't want you staying out! You'll try and kill everyone!)

His yami lost his temper. Flinging the blanket away, he stood up and yelled, "Do I look like I'm in any condition to kill anyone? And if I was, don't you think I would I have done so already?"

Malik met his eyes uneasily and instantly dropped his gaze again, unnerved by the black hatred in them. Although his yami did have a point – he was shaking just by standing, and his hair had drooped from its usual crazy spikes into something more like his light's.

Glaring at him, the spirit lay back down and pulled the blankets more tightly around him. Malik stood there uncertainly, not sure whether it was right to try and force his yami into going back into his soul room if he was that weak. But someone else felt no such qualms.

"Seems like someone can't tell when they're not wanted." Ryou strode over to him. Only it wasn't Ryou. Bakura was possessing his light's body; it made him stronger than if he were to split off. He gave the other spirit a kick.

"Fuck off!"

Bakura gave a deranged laugh and kicked him again. Yami Malik let out a partly stifled yelp and curled into the foetal position, arms protecting his head. Bakura promptly targeted his back.

"Why don't you fuck off instead? I don't want a psycho around while I'm asleep."

"I'm not going to kill you!"

"Uh huh, sure. I'll remember that." The kicking didn't cease.

"Why can't you fucking well leave me alone?"

"Why should I? Besides, you're the one who kills other people just for the hell of it. That would be the reason we all call you a psycho."

The spirit had stopped struggling; limply letting the blows rain down on him. Feeling suddenly sickened, Malik whispered, "Bakura, don't."

He didn't even bother looking up. "Why not?"

The light grabbed his shirt and tried to pull him away. "Because it isn't fair. He can't fight back."

"Oh? And did he make sure any of us could fight back before trying to kill us? I think not."

"I know, but still…" Malik trailed off, unable to think of anything to defeat this argument.

Bakura smirked and continued his persecution.

"Bakura, please."

The spirit made an impatient sound. "You do realise that even if I do stop, he won't be grateful towards you or anything, don't you? If he gets another chance to kill you he'll do it."

"Yes, I know." His tone was resigned, weary.

Bakura sighed. "…Fine. But don't ask me again." He stopped.

After a few moments Yami Malik uncurled and peeked warily out. "Finally." He curled up again and fell asleep.

Bakura shook his head regretfully. "Malik, you should have been a darker half. Then you wouldn't do things like that."

A shrug. "My loss, I guess."

Bakura shook his head again and retreated to his soul room, leaving Ryou in control.

"What did I miss?" He saw Yami Malik and his eyes became very round. "…Oh."

"He blocked you out then?"

"I don't think he meant to. He just took control in a hurry."

"I see. Um, is it all right with everyone if my yami sort of stays out? I don't think he'll try and hurt anyone."

"You're sure?" Will ventured apprehensively.

"Mostly."

…………

The area of forest in which the group slept was simply a few metres of clearing, ringed by trees. But a few metres is the equivalent of a country when you are only a few centimetres long, and so the tiny creature made its way with extreme caution over to the peculiar lumps growing up from the ground. It was a field mouse. Quite unremarkable really, its coat a muddy no-colour splattered with grey, and needle-like whiskers sticking around its nose like toothbrush bristles. Tiny claws gripped the rough fabric of one of these curious lumps, pulling its way up by sheer will. When it reached the top it began to groom itself in satisfaction, then let out a terrified squeak as the mountain shifted under it and collapsed inwards.

Malik made a sound of disgust as he flicked the mouse off his leg. Disgusting creature. It probably had fleas. He watched it scuttle off into the undergrowth, feet working furiously, and wondered if he should try and impale it with the Millennium Rod, but decided he couldn't be bothered.

He shifted his position slightly, careful not to wake Bakura. The Ring-spirit was lying protectively next to his lighter half, Item hanging sullenly around his neck and body curled up to keep warm. Will was sleeping next to Lyra, his hands very slightly outstretched as if imploring her. Yugi and his yami were wrapped around each other, Puzzle glowing faintly; Malik's other half was at the end, as far from everyone else as he could get. Malik hadn't wanted to be near him anyway, and his yami had said tartly that the very thought of them being less than a metre away from each other repulsed him just by thinking about it. Malik had shrugged at this, his hatred of him dimmed by a vague sense of pity, but couldn't help wishing he'd been even slightly grateful about the fact that he'd stopped Bakura from hurting him. Like Bakura had predicted, Malik was already starting to regret intervening.

Now I'll never get back to sleep, he thought in annoyance. But barely five minutes had passed before he nodded off again.

………

Yami Malik stirred uneasily in his blanket. He could feel himself waking up and was desperately trying to fight it – he didn't want to wake up. Because if he did the pain would start again.

But the more he tried to get back to sleep the more awake his mind grew, and he let out a frustrated growl of defeat as it began again, winding its way up his abdomen. It got so tedious after a while – the constant agony growing stronger and stronger, gnawing at him until he gave up and couldn't fight it any more; until he gave up and let it wash over him, consuming him.

Shit, he was going to throw up again. He could feel it, had felt enough of that hated sensation over the past few days to know when it would happen. He staggered to his feet, the main thought dominating him being that he wasn't going to do it here, wasn't going to show how much pain he was in. Giddily, he made his way towards the trees surrounding them, only to trip and fall as a white hand snaked out and grabbed his ankle.

"What are you up to?" Bakura materialised in front of him, sneering.

The other spirit shot to his feet, not wanting to show his weakness, the sudden movement causing him to sway. "None of your business."

"It is my business, Psycho," Bakura replied softly. "If you're planning to murder everyone in their sleep I think I have a right to know."

His temper rising again, Yami Malik gave a bitter laugh. "As a matter of fact, Tomb Robber, I was going off to throw up. And now you are going to step aside and let me past. Or would you rather come with me and watch me do it, just to make sure I'm not lying?"

"Fine, whatever." He stood to one side. "Have fun."

Resisting the urge to hit him only because he knew he couldn't hurt him, the spirit stalked past, visibly shaking with rage. Bakura was smirking.

…………

It was nearly half past twelve - twenty minutes after Yami Malik had gone back to sleep, when Ryou pushed back his sleeping bag and stood up. His mind was tired and wondering vaguely why he'd got up, especially as it was so cold, but this was just a dim protest in the back of his mind. His shadow powers filled all of his consciousness, over-riding everything else with one blissfully simple thought: he was going to Get The Psycho.

He walked around the outside of the sleeping group, stepping soundlessly over his yami. Bakura stirred slightly, and Ryou looked at him coldly for a moment before turning his attention back to his goal.

The spirit was shivering within his covers, and Ryou smiled. He personally found that the bite of the chill night air made him feel alive. Pulling his foot back, he kicked out sharply at the spirit's back, where he knew the tattoos were. He wondered idly if they hurt as much as Malik's sometimes did, or, like the rest of the spirit's form, were just an imitation of his light's body.

His question was answered quickly as Yami Malik let out an involuntary, "Fuck!"

Ryou smiled again.

Yami Malik rolled over, and his eyes went wide as he saw his tormentor. "You again? Can't either of you two leave me alone for one night?"

"I promised you last night that I'd get you. And I keep my promises." The Ring around Ryou's neck was shining almost blindingly, reacting to his shadow-energy. The spirit eyed this warily, before the thought suddenly struck him that he wasn't strong enough to use the Rod anymore.

Crap!

"That would seem like an appropriate word to describe your situation." Ryou began to toy with his Item, all the while grinning. "Perhaps…as you can no longer use your Item, you will forget how to activate it. It would be nice of me to remind you, wouldn't it now?"

The Millennium Rod floated out of Yami Malik's pocket, and he made a grab for it, too late. He let out a high-pitched sound as Ryou put out a hand and grasped it easily, and it began to glow.

"It calls to you, of course. Which would imply that I wouldn't be able to use it, or indeed touch it, without suffering some sort of ill effect. But I find that when you have as much shadow-power as I do, you can do most things." He grinned again, and Yami Malik could feel the Rod succumb to him, just like Yugi's Dark Magician.

"So how do you work this thing? Just point it?" The Item was raised, and before the spirit could react the blast bowled him over backwards.

"Hmm. That seemed to work."

His victim shook violently, put out a hand to raise himself, then collapsed.

"Dear me, we are weak, aren't we? And what was it you always say? The weak must be eradicated? Nice motto, by the way." Ryou slipped the Rod into his pocket, having finished experimenting with it. "Now Psycho, get ready to be eradicated. After all, it'll make you happy – having another weakling being destroyed from existence. And I want to make you happy."

There was a noise from behind him. "Ra, Psycho, when I told you to go and have fun I didn't think you'd get into something like this." Bakura took in the situation with interest, looking odd without the Ring hanging around his neck.

Ryou turned and smiled at him. "Hello, yami. I'm playing with the Psycho. Do you want to join in?"

His yami looked at him warily. "No thanks."

"Okay then. I want to keep the fun for myself anyway." He giggled. "I'm going to kill the Psycho. It's going to be really fun."

The Ring-spirit shrugged. "Sure, Ryou. Whatever you want."

"Thanks for nothing!" Yami Malik screamed at him.

"I think I'll go back to sleep now. Make sure it's a really drawn out death."

"Rest assured, he will die slowly." Ryou giggled again.

Bakura looked at his light, and for a moment Yami Malik thought he saw that same expression of wariness cross his face, along with disgust. "Well, enjoy yourself."

"I will."

Bakura obligingly stood to one side, while the other spirit simply stared in disbelief.

"Any last words?" Ryou dissolved into a giggling fit. "I've always wanted to say that. Oooh, this is so exciting." He was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

Desperate now, Yami Malik strived with all his will to bring back his shadow-powers, but the only result was a brief transparent purple glow around him, and his efforts only exhausted him further.

"So weeeeeeak. This is how you really do it." With a muffled whoosh flames blazed around Ryou, and he played with them for a moment, seeing how many different colours he could turn them. He finally decided on purple, and the spirit knew it was to mock him.

"Ryou, wait."

The light sounded impatient. "What? I'm trying to kill someone here."

"I know. But I don't want you to."

"What? Are you turning soft on me?" Ryou looked at him incredulously, while Yami Malik wondered if this was the Tomb Robber's final way to humiliate him.

"I…Oh fuck it, I can't do it. I may be a total bastard, but I still can't watch you kill someone in cold blood like that." The spirit sighed, and scratched his head. "Gods, I am turning soft." He walked round until he stood in between Ryou and the other spirit.

"You disappoint me, yami. Now get out of the way."

"I can't."

Ryou sighed, and almost regretfully made a small movement with his hand, like waving away a fly. Bakura was shoved sideways like a doll.

"Don't make me hurt you, yami. Just stay out of the way."

The spirit tried to get up and run forward, but his light held up a hand and he was pushed back again.

"Where was I? Oh, yes. Killing you."

Yami Malik quailed under his gaze and backed away.

The beam came out of nowhere, stunning him so he fell in a tangle of limbs and shadow-fire. Yami stepped out from behind Ryou, dusting off his hands in a satisfied manner. The other two yamis stared at him as if he were Ra.

"Gods, it would almost be worth fucking your hikari if you could still be as strong as that." Yami Malik didn't realise he had spoken aloud until Yami said coldly, "isn't the word 'thank you' part of your vocabulary? I really don't know why people bother trying to help you."

"I happen to be beyond help," Yami Malik replied frostily, the barest hint of pride audible in his voice.

"Arigato, Pharaoh." The word was said with a smarmy air, as Bakura looked at him with a glance that plainly said, See? Sometimes it pays to suck up to the Pharaoh.

I don't need to suck up to anyone, the psychotic spirit thought furiously.

More fool you, then.

Bakura smirked at the angry look at his face. It was funny how sometimes you didn't need to open your mouth to have a conversation with somebody – their face said it all. He slowly walked over to his hikari, pulling him gently to his feet.

"Ryou?"

His light stirred. "W-what? What happened?"

"You sleepwalked for a bit, that was all. It's okay. No one got hurt."

Yeah, no one important, right Tomb Robber?

"…Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

Feeling a peculiar lump in his pocket, Ryou slowly put in a pale hand and drew out the Millennium Rod. "…How did this get here? Did I take it?"

Well, I certainly didn't give it to you by choice.

Ryou looked at Yami Malik in astonishment, and the spirit wondered if he could still read thoughts. Silently the light handed it over. Yami Malik took it, equally silently. He wasn't sure if he could trust himself to open his mouth without screaming at this idiot who had nearly killed him a few minutes ago, and now had no idea what he had done.

"Sorry."

A low growl in return.

I didn't mean to. I can't control them.

These words appeared in his head, and he replied without thinking about it.

Damn right you can't.

…………

Just ten or so metres away, three men crouched in the thick bushes. They were stiff and cold, having been there for several hours; bad-tempered too, for they were divided over what to do.

One of them rocked silently on his heels, mumbling a prayer as he did so. If it had been day the light would have reflected off the silver cross hanging around his neck. His lizard daemon clung to his shoulder, splayed feet like tiny suction caps.

His companions, or rather one of them, elbowed him sharply to shut him up, resulting in a startled yelp. "Quiet, you fool!"

This was far too much of a golden opportunity to be wasted. Who knew what their reward would be if they came back with such a prize that now lay before them? Riches perhaps, or maybe even a personal congratulations from Mrs Coulter. Although the former was greatly favoured over the latter – none of them wanted to have any more contact with her than was absolutely necessary.

"He doesn't even have a daemon," the third man muttered in a desultory tone. "What kind of person doesn't have a daemon? Maybe he is from another world."

A snort, hastily muffled. "If you mention the Barnard-Stokes thing one more time I'll get someone to excommunicate you. And who said he had to have a daemon? That spirit of his is a good enough substitute." He didn't realise how correct he was. "I say we carry it through. He's asleep now, anyway."

"Yeah, seems to be more dangerous asleep than awake," one laughed.

"Be as that may, either of you wake him up and you can tell Mrs Coulter how you messed up."

"Oh, so you're implying you won't put a foot wrong? That if anything goes wrong it'll be our fault? So much for teamwork."

They continued arguing.

…………

Ryou didn't get back to sleep that night, kept awake by feelings of guilt and worry. Why did he have to keep sleepwalking like that? He could have killed someone. (He wasn't aware that he very nearly had.) His yami had gone back into the Ring, to his consternation - he really wanted someone to talk to.

He could tell he wasn't the only one having trouble sleeping, from the amount of tossing and turning coming from where Yami Malik lay. But he had absolutely no desire to talk to him, having a pretty good idea of how the spirit felt towards him.

Wait. What was that?

He was beginning to find that his shadow-powers were making his body more sensitive to things around him, like moods and thoughts. But he thought that it was something more than that right now – he could feel the presence of someone nearby. Which was stupid, because he was surrounded by the rest of the group. Although it felt a bit further off…the feeling was faint and unclear, but he was sure there were people, strangers, to his left. It wasn't totally implausible. After all, there were plenty of places to hide-

Stop it, he told himself firmly. Your imagination's getting the better of you. And yet he was so sure…

He shrugged and sighed. Maybe he'd go have a look anyway, if only to satisfy his curiosity and give himself something to do. But what if it was dangerous?

After thinking for a moment, he tentatively got up and tiptoed over to where Yami Malik lay, the only other person still awake.

"Y-Yami no Malik?" he whispered.

The spirit shifted and turned over. "…Oh for Ra's sake."

"I'm not sleepwalking. I just wondered…I think there's something over there, and I want to have a look. But if I don't come back in ten minutes, will you wake the others?"

"No."

Ryou sighed and left him, hoping he'd changed his mind. Hopefully he was just bitter from whatever he'd done to him.

………

The first man jolted upright, seizing both of his companions by the shirts. "Look! He's coming!"

"What? Why?"

"I don't know!" he hissed. "But if we don't move he'll walk right on top of us!"

"Oh yeah." Suddenly he stopped. "…Hey, what if we do it? Actually do it?"

"Are you crazy?"

"Are you?"

"Fine, take a quick vote. Raise your hand a bit if you think we should kidnap him." He counted. Two against one. He was outnumbered. "Fine. Let's do it."

In an ideal world, it would have been relatively straightforward. And quick. It was, after all, three of them verses one of him. But they were clumsy with excitement, and if one hadn't thought to clamp a hand over Ryou's face he would have called out and alerted the others. As it was, he somehow managed to send one to the Shadow Realm before they knocked him out, and he had no idea how he'd done it.

Actually, one casualty wasn't too bad, the priest mused. Even if they had no idea how he'd died.

…………

A/N: And that's it. Two weeks of work, and 10,000 words. Jeez, these take a lot out of you. Please review! And watch this space, for one day in the hopefully not-too-distant future, you will behold a sequel. Mwahahaha…