Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters ;;

Authoress Note: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. I have many other fics and stuff going on. I really don't know where to go with this though so if you have any ideas I'll gladly consider them and give you credit.

Warning: I really didn't mean to but there's a little shonen-ai popping up. And there might be more to come. BXR RXY

There was an annoying ringing that flooded Bakura's weightless bliss. The throbbing in his wrist was constant with his heartbeat. And now this horrid sound shattered this calm world.

Ryou, get that, it's annoying me. he growled from within the darkness.

/Why me? Why don't you get it?/ he responded, somewhere not too far away. He knew that Ryou was also feeling this wonderful relief. Both of them were beyond the point where pain was no more and all there was was this throbbing energy as his body struggled to live.

Because in might be one of your friends.

/ So? You can use my voice, you've done it before, they won't know the difference. / Bakura groaned to this and tried to ignore his hikari. The ringing stopped for a minute the started again.

Ugh! Bakura moaned in exasperation.

/ Fine I'll get it! / The dark chuckled. Ryou always gave in before too long. He was just too nice.

The boy groaned with annoyance and pain as he resurfaced into the world of the living. The towel was soaked with blood as he pushed it from his lap to the floor. He hobbled to the phone and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" he groaned. A sigh came from the other side.

"I was starting to get worried." Yuugi was the one calling him. "Why weren't you at school?"

"I'm sick," Ryou lied. He hated to lie to his friends but it was the only thing he could do. He couldn't tell him what he had really been doing. If they ever found out that he had been participating in one of Bakura's rituals they'd never look at him the same again.

"Oh well that's too bad. I'll come over later to help you with homework ok?" No! Ryou began to panic. If Yuugi came over and saw all the blood he would definitely want to know what happened. That would be horrible. Yuugi couldn't come over. He couldn't but what kind of an excuse could he find?

"Thanks." That was all he could say. He couldn't come up with anything at all.

"No problem." Ryou hung up the phone and sunk to the floor, gripping his wrist.

"I don't know why he worries so much." He stood up and wrapped his wounds and slipped into his bed. He laid there shivering until the comforting presence of his yami pressed against his back. He felt Bakura wrap his arms around him, holding him protectively.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes." It was strange, his yami had never cared this much.

"You don't have to do it again you know." Bakura's conscience was tugging at him. He'd caused his hikari a great deal of pain.

"I know, you tell me every time." He sighed, closing his eyes.

"I was just making sure." When there was no response, Bakura covered Ryou with a blanket and closed his own eyes. Ryou laid there in the midst of his own thoughts. Why was everyone so worried? He hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. He'd been sick before and Yuugi, and his friends, hadn't cared. He'd rolled in that bliss given the notorious title of masochism but Bakura had never worried for his safety. He shook off those thoughts and rolled over in his yami's arms to snuggle against his strong form. Sighing, he released all his problems and slipped away into sleep.

Another Authoress Note: AWWW!