Rowan: Well, I felt bad not having the story behind Honda and Ryou, so…I have written the story here. I hope it measures up to the first part!

This is in Honda's POV.

Beneath A Snow-Covered Tree

"Honda?"

I look up from my desk in my dorm room to find Bakura standing in the doorway, nervously wringing his hands. "Hai, Bakura? What is it?"

He blushes as he enters my room and sits on my bed. "I've met someone."

"Oh?"

Bakura nods, smiling shyly. "He- you know him."

"Who is he?" I ask, curious.

"I invited him to dinner to meet my friends and I want you to come, onegai shimasu."

I nod in assent. "Who else will be there?"

He tucks his chin into his chest, causing a curtain of white to block his face from my view. "He doesn't know or understand about Yami Bakura. I need you to be there just in case anything…out of hand occurs."

I sigh. Doesn't he realize that this is what started it in the first place? "You know that that was how all of this was started, don't you?"

His hair bobs up and down. "It won't happen this time, I promise."

"Can we both come?"

Bakura lifts his head to face me, deep mahogany eyes scared but determined. "I'd prefer only you Honda."

---

"I've asked you all to gather here because there are a few things I need to say to you all," Shizuka began, three months ago, her face drawn, but hard with a steely determination that shocked me. Turning to Mai, she smiled grimly. "First is that, with the help of Mai, I was able to apply to a number of schools in America. I am proud and excited to announce that I will be attending Stanford in California next fall." Jou leapt out of his seat at her words.

"Shizuka! You mean to say you are leaving Japan by yourself?" he exclaimed, distressed.

Shizuka nodded. "Yes Jou, I am."

"Is it that bad here in Japan Shizu?" Ryuuji inquired, also getting out of his seat.

Shizuka turned accusatory eyes to me, then turned back to answer Ryuuji. "I just need to get away, that's all. It's not that Japan is bad…there's just so much that's happened here I feel I must get away."

"But America?" Jou cried.

"Isn't that a bit far, Shizuka?" Yuugi added.

Shizuka bowed her head apologetically. "I'm sorry," she muttered.

It was then that Mai stood up and placed a protective arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. "Shizuka is venturing out into the world, a scary but exciting adventure for her! And all you guys can do is criticize her? Not a one of you has wished her luck or anything of the kind!"

Shamefaced, Jou, Yuugi and Ryuuji returned to their seats.

"Congratulations Shizuka," Anzu said with a smile. To this day, I've wondered whether she had been in on it the whole time. Anzu denies it, but I think she knew beforehand anyway.

Bakura stood at that and offered his hand and a smile. "I'm sure it'll be a great experience for you Shizuka."

Shizuka looked up and smiled shyly. "Thank you both, but please…don't be happy yet. I haven't finished what I have to say." I remember she seemed so meditatively furious at that moment when she looked at me.

"Mai, I never told you this, but last December, when we were walking home from the mall, I wasn't really looking at the trees." Shizuka turned then to Ryuuji, holding her hands out almost like an offering of peace. "I've kept this for awhile, but I can't protect Honda any longer!" she cried and that moment everyone looked at me.

Except Bakura. He looked away, and at that moment, I knew what Shizuka was talking about.

She had seen us kiss. And Bakura had known all along that Shizuka had been there.

Ryuuji didn't catch any of this, placing his warm hands over my own, his green eyes wide with wonder. "Hiroto, what is she talking about? Protect you from what?"

I took my hands and placed them over Ryuuji's, then lifted then to my bowed forehead. How could I say this? Was there an easy way to let him know? I could wait until Shizuka spilled the beans, but I had a feeling she was waiting, like the rest of them were, to hear me say it.

Sighing, I opened my mouth to speak, but the words never passed my lips. Before I spoke, a voice from outside the group of curious friends said, "Shizuka saw me kiss Honda. She's been keeping that secret from all of you. I'm sorry I always cause trouble. Good bye."

I lifted my eyes in time to see Bakura walk out the door. The others were still in such shock that their gaping faces were still turned towards my own.

---

Otogi didn't speak to me for a week after that. Jou didn't really talk to me either. And if Jou didn't talk to me, neither did Mai. Bakura had disappeared and Shizuka was avoiding me. Yuugi was busy watching the game shop, but I found that it was the safest to hang out with him there. We never spoke about Bakura's comment or Shizuka's announcement. Yuugi never asked, and I never offered, to speak about that.

"I'm going to ask her to marry me."

I looked up from the magazine I had been reading. "Excuse me?"

"Shizuka. I'm going to ask her to marry me," Yuugi repeated.

"But I thought you loved Anzu."

Yuugi nodded. "I do, but if Shizuka marries me she can't go to America."

I hadn't wanted to talk about this. Not now, not so soon after Shizuka revealed the secret that had burdened me for months. "Why you though?"

"You're gay."

"I'm bi."

"You're with Otogi."

"Does he know that?"

Yuugi sighed. "I'm sorry Honda, I had forgotten."

I shook my head at that. Did he really expect me to believe that? "You're lying to me Yuugi."

"I know." Yuugi said it easily, without regret.

I stood from my seat and towered over the still diminutive boy. "Why don't you ask me? I know you want to know what happened, how long Bakura and I have been together, how far we've gone! Ask me Yuugi!"

Yuugi sighed. "Honda, I'm not interested. I don't want to know-" I opened my mouth to protest, but Yuugi did not give me space to speak, plunging on, "-I don't want to know until you are ready to tell us. I may never know what happened, but I'm okay with that."

"You don't have to marry Shizuka."

"I know."

"She's going to leave no matter what."

"None of us can stop her."

I nodded. "You're right. She's determined to leave."

"It's not your fault Honda," Yuugi whispered.

I realize he was right, but at that time I blamed myself for pushing Shizuka to another continent. "Yes it is. It's entirely my fault Yuugi."

---

Three weeks after that Shizuka left for America. Yuugi and Anzu drove me to the airport, where the three of us met up with the others for the first time in a month. Otogi and I were still not talking, but Jou and I had come to an understanding that I had my reasons for not talking about what happened between Bakura and me.

Bakura didn't show up at the airport. Shizuka did not seem too upset at his absence. The only one who seemed to care was Yuugi, and when he mentioned it, nobody said anything, so Yuugi dropped the subject.

We were gathered in the food court to say goodbye before Shizuka had to get to her terminal, and I knew I couldn't let her leave without saying something- something about the kiss between Bakura and myself. "Shizuka, may I have a word in private?"

She turned away from Anzu and frowned slightly at me, before nodding ever so slightly and making her way over to my side. We began to walk down the hall in silence before I spoke.

"Shizuka…it wasn't what you think it was. Bakura and I…it wasn't anything, he only-"

"Honda," she interrupted quietly, "I don't want to hear your excuses."

"They're not excuses Shizuka!" I cried. "It's the truth!"

Shizuka stopped walking and turned to face me head on. "The truth is, Honda, you lied to me- lied to all of us! By not telling us that you and Bakura kissed, you were lying to all of us! Even if the kiss was nothing!"

"If I kiss someone, that should be between myself and the other person!" I shouted. "If anyone has the right to know if I kiss someone, it's Ryuuji! But it's nobody else's business Shizu! So don't say I lied to you, because it was none of your damn business to start with!"

Shizuka's eyes were wide- with fright or with fury, I couldn't be sure. "But you didn't tell Otogi, did you?" she hissed. "Just like you didn't tell me that you and Otogi were a couple."

"Is that what this is all about? You had to make my humiliation public to get back at me for not telling you about Ryuuji and me?"

Shizuka turned away from me, but I could see tears flowing down her cheeks. "I loved you Honda, and you broke my heart," she whispered quietly. But the next moment her head whipped up and she was glaring at me. "But this is not about that! It's about the proclivity you have of lying to the ones you love!" she yelled. "Don't you get it Honda? You lied to me and you lied to Otogi, and if you're not careful, you'll lie to everyone and end up alone!"

She then turned and ran back to the others, wiping her tears away. I glanced back at them and noticed that they were all staring at me. I looked into Ryuuji's green eyes, trying to see whether he agreed with Shizuka, but he turned away from me too quickly. He couldn't stand to look at me anymore.

---

September marked the beginning of college for all of us, and the fates had it in for me. My roommate was none other than Ryuuji. I had made it to the dorm first, and was mostly unpacked when he showed up. Neither of us said anything. He ignored me, and I wasn't about to push him. I missed him so bad, but if he was ever going to forgive me, he was going to do it on his own time.

Jou and Yuugi were roommates, and across from the hall was Bakura in a single. It was awkward- the situation between Ryuuji and me, and it strained the group as a whole. Bakura barely hung out with us, and if ever I participated in a group activity, odds were that Ryuuji would be busy.

The only times I ever saw Bakura was in class or when we did homework together. Whenever the two of us had a study session, Ryuuji always managed to make himself scarce. We usually studied for an hour, and magically when we finished, Ryuuji would return to our room. However, one evening Bakura and I were struggling with our homework for well over an hour, so Ryuuji sat at his desk, quiet and pale, as he watched us work.

"I just don't get it!" I finally growled out of frustration, slamming the textbook shut.

Bakura, sitting next to me, sighed. "Neither do I, and I have an essay to write. Thanks for your help, Honda." He stood and gathered his books, then turned to leave. On his way to the door, he passed Ryuuji. "Good evening Otogi."

Ryuuji nodded ever so slightly. "Evening." Bakura sighed, and walked back to his room, closing the door behind him.

I gathered my books off the bed and prepared to go to sleep when Ryuuji spoke again, this time to me.

"You guys…were actually studying." His voice was filled with a wondrous awe that made me cock an eyebrow at him.

"Of course we were," I replied peevishly, tired from studying and not wanting to deal with Ryuuji's stupidity. I closed my eyes and turned onto my side, my head facing the wall.

The lights went out and I heard footsteps move across the room. My bed sank near my feet with the added weight as Ryuuji sat down. "Oh," I heard him whisper. "I always thought you two were up to…something else."

I snorted. "If we were, wouldn't you think we'd go to Bakura's room instead? Besides," I added, "I don't love him, so what would be the point?"

"But…but you kissed…that's what Bakura said, anyway."

Sitting up, I searched through the dark until our eyes met. His eyes were large with confusion, and his head was tilted to the side. I smiled as my hand went out and cupped his cheek. "Ryuuji, I've only ever loved you. I never felt anything for Bakura, and I never will."

I felt tears fall down his cheek as his hand covered my own. "Then why did you kiss him?"

I shook my head. "No, Ryuuji, I…" and that's when I finally understood Shizuka's anger at my attempt to make her understand. If the kiss had meant nothing, then why didn't I tell Ryuuji, tell everyone, that it happened? If I had nothing to hide, why did I? "I promised I wouldn't tell," I finally replied. That was the truth, after all. And Ryuuji nodded.

"Okay, Hiroto, I believe you…and I love you too."

I was happiest at that moment. Ryuuji and I were one again. And he believed me; he forgave me- that's all that mattered.

---

It was the week before Christmas and I wanted to get Ryuuji something special, because it would be our first holiday as lovers, and I wanted to commemorate that. Not being much of a shopper myself, and knowing the girls were shopping together, and the Jou and Yuugi had work, I asked Bakura to accompany me. I trusted him to help me choose the perfect gift. Bakura had always been sensitive like that.

We were walking back to the game shop where everyone was meeting later that evening when Bakura turned to me. "Honda, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."

Raising an eyebrow, I nodded nevertheless. "What's eating away at you Bakura?" I asked.

He glanced around furtively, then smiled. "Let's take a shortcut through the park. I'll tell you as we go."

We redirected our steps towards the blanketed park that, during the springtime, was always filled with beautiful sakura flowers blossoming on their branches, creating a heavenly sky of light pink. Even in the winter the park looked serene and quiet, and reminded me of Bakura in many ways.

As we walked, Bakura began to speak. "You remember Duelist Kingdom?"

I nodded. "Who could forget?"

"Indeed. Honda…Hiroto, I'm…well, I…" Bakura stuttered. I waited patiently as what he wanted to say seemed rather difficult. His use of my first name was startling, but I made nothing of it, chalking it up to cold at the time. "I'm in love with you," he finally murmured too softly for me to hear quite clearly.

"Excuse me?"

Bakura sighed. "I love you Hiroto, and have since the day you tried to save me from my curse." He knew that I understood what he meant by that.

"You…what?" I gasped, and such shock jolted through me at that moment that I sat on a bench to comprehend what exactly it was my friend was telling me.

Bakura sat beside me, his arms wrapped around himself to keep his body warm, though the faint glow emitted from the Millennium Ring hidden beneath his jacket, visible even through the downy material of his winter coat, seemed to burn his skin, as he winced when he sat on the bench. "When you saved me, that day, and tossed the Ring into Pegasus's forest…I never loved you more Hiroto, and ever since that moment, my heart beats only for you. And I know you're with Otogi and understand if you don't feel the same, but…I had to tell you. For both our sakes." I never understood if, when he said that, he was revering to the two of us, or himself and his yami. I never thought to ask.

I blushed at Bakura's bold confession. "I'm flattered Bakura, really I am, but Ryuuji is the only one for me, and he always will be. I wish…I wish there were something I could do…" I trailed off.

Bakura smiled and I found that smile to be the saddest one I've ever seen on anyone's face. There was so much understanding in that smile, so much love, and yet so much pain. "Actually, there is something you can do Hiroto."

"What?" I asked.

"Let me kiss you?" Bakura blushed immediately after saying that, throwing his hands over his face. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

I reached over and pulled Bakura's mitten-covered hands away from his face. "It's okay Bakura," I said quietly. And in saying that, I was also telling him that, not only was it okay to ask, but it was okay if he kissed me as well. Understanding that, he moved closer to me, and I had to lean my face down in order to make it easier for him, as well as for me, so that I could see his eyes and not his cherry red hat.

That winter evening, on a frozen park bench, I allowed Bakura to kiss me beneath a snow-covered tree.

---

As I walk into the restaurant, a rather expensive French restaurant down the street from uptown Domino, I realize with shock that Bakura's definition of 'casual' and mine are quite different. How he can afford such a place I'm not quite sure.

The maître d' of the restaurant looks up at me and curls his lip in disdain. I suppose jeans aren't the fashion here. "How may I help you sir?" he slurs, his eyes gazing down at me from behind his beaky nose.

"I'm supposed to be meeting a friend of mine, Bakura Ryou?" I reply, lifting my head up as I speak.

The man looks down at his list of reservations. "Honda Hiroto?" he asks. I nod. "I see. In that case, follow me please." He turns around haughtily and leads me to a booth near the window where Bakura is sitting alone. "Here you are," the maître d' says, then leaves swiftly.

Sliding into the opposite side of the booth, I smile. "Hay Bakura, when's your date supposed to show?"

"He should be here in a couple minutes. He just got off work and should be here soon." Bakura is fidgeting with his cloth napkin and biting his lower lip. "I was thinking that you could help me explain about the Millennium Ring. He knows a little about the Items, but not about my yami."

"So who is this guy of yours anyway? You said I know him, but how well?" I ask.

Bakura laughs at my question. "Actually, it's a bit of a surprise. I want to see what your reaction is when you meet him."

This has me a little worried. Who can this guy possibly be that Bakura wants to gauge my reaction to him? I'm about to find out as, at that moment, the maître d' walks up to our table. "Bakura-san, your second guest has arrived."

Both Bakura and I stand up as the maître d' walks away and Seto Kaiba comes into view. Bakura smiles and hugs him around his neck, placing a shy kiss on the CEO's cheek. I see a slight smile cross the usually cold face of Kaiba as he returns the embrace.

When Bakura releases his hold on Kaiba, they walk towards me, Bakura blushing and Kaiba as stoic as ever. My immediate reaction is to go on the offensive, but seeing the happiness in Bakura's glowing face, I fight my instinct and instead offer my hand to the other man. "Honda Hiroto, pleasure to meet you," I say.

Kaiba takes my hand and shakes it firmly. "Kaiba Seto, I believe we've met before."

"But not under the same circumstances," I reply. "I've only known you as an enemy; it's nice to meet you as Bakura's boyfriend instead."

"Yes, I suppose it is," he says and the corners of his frowning mouth lift. Bakura beams at me and I can tell he's glad everything is going well.

The three of us sit down, Bakura on the inside of the booth with Kaiba beside him, and myself facing the both of them. As I slide into my seat, I notice with interest how Kaiba is holding Bakura's hand to his chest.

There is a moment of awkward silence before Bakura speaks. "Seto, I know I told you that you'd be meeting all my friends tonight, but I thought it would be wise if I gradually told them."

I smile at that. "You mean you were afraid that Jounouchi might make a scene," I remark, causing Bakura to flush and, surprisingly, Kaiba to laugh.

Bakura nods. "Well, yeah. After all, we all know what Jou thinks of Seto." Turning back to Kaiba, Bakura's face grows serious. 'There was something else I wanted to tell you Seto, and for that I needed Honda's assistance." Kaiba frowns at this and I can tell that he's confused.

"What do you mean, Ryou?" he asks.

Bakura reaches into his shirt and a moment later pulls out the Millennium Ring. "I know you've heard a lot about the Millennium Items and Ancient Egypt and such from the others. I am also aware that you don't believe in most of what you've heard. However, I beg you to listen to what I have to tell you with an open mind. Can you do that for me Seto?" Kaiba nods his head reluctantly. His face has grown cold again, by the way his face his set and his back is flat against the seat. Bakura, however, has a grim, solemn look in his eyes. "Seto, I would like you to meet Yami Bakura. He is the spirit of the Ring and the opposite side of my soul."

There is a sudden change in the white haired male which seems to take Kaiba by surprise, for he drops Bakura's hand and pulls away. And I don't blame him. The difference between my gentle friend and his devilish yami is so intense and enormous that the thought that they share the same body is frightening.

Yami Bakura smirks at wide-eyed Kaiba. "So I see my hikari has finally grown some backbone and gotten what he wants for once," he remarks. Then he turns his gaze towards me and frowns. "I see what little trust he has in me, however." He grins maliciously. "He certainly isn't stupid in that."

I narrow my eyes at the thief. "Don't even think of trying anything Tomb Thief," I hiss.

At this he laughs. "Or what? Big brave Honda to the rescue, to whisk little Bakura away and steal his heart again?" He seems to take great enjoyment in this, his eyes lit with nefarious glee.

"I didn't do that on purpose," I bite out. "It's not like I meant for him to fall in love with me."

Yami Bakura simply nods. "So say you. But then, what are you doing here now? Jealous that Ryou has moved on? Or waiting for Kaiba to lose control of the situation and emerge as the hero?"

At this point I steal a glance over at Kaiba who, no surprise here, as the most baffled expression on his face. He doesn't say anything, however; seems like he will bide his time to ask questions. I then turn my attention back to Yami Bakura. "Bakura asked me to be here; that's all. I don't want to be the hero and I don't want Bakura's love; I just want to help my friend."

Yami Bakura smirks. "Well that's good to hear. Know this though, Honda; it was my idea that he tell you, eleven months ago. It was because of me he got the…hmm, courage, to admit his feelings."

I gasp. "You? Why?"

"Because if you had returned those feelings, I would actually approve of your relationship." Yami Bakura turns once again to Kaiba. "I guess you'll do." Then he closes his eyes and the Millennium ring begins to glow. A few seconds later, it dulls again and the white haired man opens his eyes.

"Seto?" Bakura says, turning to the CEO. "Seto, what did he say to you?"

Kaiba smirks as he pulls Bakura into his lap, wrapping his arms around him. "He said some rather interesting things to Honda here, but ultimately I believe he approves of me."

"And nothing…weird happened, did it?" Bakura's voice is still skeptical, as if he can't believe that Yami Bakura wouldn't have caused some trouble.

Kaiba shakes his head and plants a soft kiss on Bakura's forehead. "Nothing…weird. Just rather…interesting."

Bakura relaxes in Kaiba's arms and flashes me a quick smile. "Thank you," he mouths, before closing his eyes and returning to the warmth of his boyfriends embrace.

"I think I better be going," I whisper, getting up and walking out of the restaurant. I walk down the street and back towards my dorm when it begins to snow. The white flakes are piling on my shoulders and by the time I reach the park, there is about a foot of snow covering the ground. Looking across the street, I see someone waving at me from a bench. Seeing the black hair I immediately know it's Ryuuji and cross the street with a smile on my face.

When I reach to where he is sitting patiently by the entrance to the park, he stands up without a word and links arms with me. We walk silently through the park, neither of us speaking. Neither of us have to, simply content to be together.

As we pass the bench where, nearly a year ago Shizuka had spotted Bakura and me kissing, Ryuuji stops and sits down. "Is this where?" he asks. I nod and sit beside him.

"Yes, it is."

Ryuuji smiles and leans into me. "So how did it go?"

"Something like this," I reply with a smile as I pull Ryuuji closer and kiss him softly on the lips.

He pulls back and smirks. "That's it? Bakura doesn't know what he's missing," he remarks, then pulls me to him swiftly, a firm grip on my jacket front.

And there, in the deserted park on a frozen bench, Ryuuji kissed me deeply beneath a snow-covered tree.

Owari

Rowan: claps hands I liked that conclusion! I really do like this sequel and think it's as good as the first! So now, hopefully, none of you will want Honda dead! I loved how the ending happened…just sort of came out o thin air, Yami Bakura's words did. I hope everyone one enjoyed the explanation behind the kiss and just enjoyed this story in general. Please review if you liked it! I had so much fun writing this!

Reply to reviews:

Wolfbane2: Per your enthusiastic request, I have written this story in explanation of what Shizuka did not hear. While in the end there was no Honda/Ryou, hopefully the Seto/Ryou made up for that? Thank you so much for reviewing!

QueenOfGames2: Well hopefully you don't want to kill Honda anymore! And I hope I explained in the story why it had to be Ryou and not anyone else (well, Seto had a different role to play, so it couldn't be him kissing Honda. Plus Jou would have had a fit…which creates quite an interesting image in my head right now, lol.) I do feel bad for Shizu as well, but she got to yell at Honda in this story, so I think she is justified now. I really hope you enjoyed the sequel!

Misura- I am so glad you thought it was well done! And now it's your decision whether you think Honda deserves a smack or not (I personally think he does, but then he only did what he did for Ryou, so…). I tried to do the same build up with the sequel, so I hope it was just as effective as in the first part. Thank you so much for reviewing my story!

Zelia Theb- I am so glad that you wandered back! And that you think it stands out -blushes-. It's really nice to hear that about my story. I can't wait to know what you think about the Honda/Ryou story!

-glomps all the reviewers, past and potential- Your reviews make my world go round!