Close Call

A/N: you liked it! You all really liked it! I feels so special! I am so sorry that this took me so long! I've been really busy and I've had this written for about a month and just been to lazy to edit it. I've been so busy it's insane! And I'm using to many exclamation points!.yah, I'm done. Anywho, I'm glad you all reviewed and I'm even considering not leaving this off at a cliffy, but I don't know.depends on my mood.

Bakura: that means this'll be the worst cliffy in history

It will not! There have been many worse cliffies then I could ever write.

Bakura: ask your readers, they'll tell you that your cliffies are evil.

I've learned from the best.

Bakura: you've learned nothing from me

Hmph, well, think that if you will, but I'm starting this chapter so that the readers can know what happens to Ryou-chan.

Ryou: I'd like to know that myself

Oh you will Tenshi, you will

Ryou: that wasn't a good tone

Bakura: run

You'll be back! Well, read and enjoy.

()())()()()

Ryou's blood ran cold and his body stopped moving. He stared at Yugi who stared back.

"How are you?" Yugi muttered sleepily. Ryou simply stared, he couldn't have said anything even if his very life had depended on it. 'oh shit, now what' "good night Ryou," Yugi murmured before closing his eyes and roling over. Ryou walked slowly backwards out of the room and didn't breathe until he was in the kitchen. That had been way to close for comfort. He sighed and sat down in a chair. The house seemed way to empty and he felt vulnerable and tired. His stomach growled and he went silently over to the cupboards, looking for something to eat. He found a tea pot and some bread, this would be good enough for now. After making toast he put the tea on the stove and was eating his toast when it started to whistle. He jumped over the chair, knocking it over in the process and snatched the pot off the burner before it woke Yugi again. 'how thick can I get!' he thought, pouring himself a mug. It was no wonder he'd almost gotten caught. He was lucky Yugi slept like a rock, but now the question was, would Yugi remember seeing him, forget it or dismiss it as a dream.

He was finishing off his 4th cup of tea, caffeine being the intent, when Yami came in the door.

"Oh, hello, I see you got out ok."

"Yami! Yugi woke up," Ryou hissed at him. Yami looked blank for a moment, and then it hit him.

"shit, what did you do?"

"I don't think he really knew it was me, he just stared at me and then went back to sleep" Yami sighed and sat down in the chair next to him.

"We have to find you a hiding place, we've had three close calls in 1 day, less then that, and we still have to hide you for longer."

"I know, I just don't know how."

"By the way, mister innocent loving hikari to a deamon." Ryou stared at Yami who sighed and gave him a look.

"Go on," Ryou said through a snicker.

"Ok, when are you planning to let everyone know that you're NOT dead." Ryou seemed to think about this for a moment.

"I think I'll tell everyone after they have some sort of funeral for me." Yami glared.

"That is cruel, do you know how much trouble you're causing? Do you know how much pain you're causing everyone?" Ryou nodded sadly.

"I know, but I'm just sick of being ignored, and this way I'll know that I'm gonna be appreciated again."

"Or hated."

"Yes, one of the 2, but I can't exactly tell everyone today, that'd just be to much of an emotional swing for them to take it rationally." Yami smirked at him.

"Do you mean, hwithout killing you or hanging you?" Ryou nodded and filled his fifth cup. "good god! How many cups have you had? I was gone for 15 minutes."

"number 5," he said, lovingly patting his mug.

"Oh Ra, this is going to be fun."

"Always, but seriously, Yugi won't sleep for much longer, I need to find a place." Yami thought, and thought, and thought, and.you get the point. After 20 minutes he finally clicked his fingers.

"I have a place, but it's a little uncomfortable, and you're going to have to be really quiet and stay there for long periods of time."

"It's fine, just so I'm not under anyone's bed."

"Well, you know our couch has a really high back?" Ryou nodded, comprehention dawning on his face.

"Yami!"

"NO, listen, you can hide in that little corner behind the couch. It's big enough for you to stretch out, you can kneel behind it, and it's where I can keep track of you."

"But what if Yugi's out there?"

"He's to short to see over the top" Ryou laughed until he heard the sounds from the other room.

"Yami? Where am I to short to see over?" Yami went as pale as Ryou.

"Looks like you get to try out that hiding spot." He whispered, pushing Ryou out into the living room and throwing him over the top of the couch where he landed with a thump and an ow.

"Yami?" Yugi came slowly out into the living room, looking around.

"Hello Aibou, how did you sleep."

"uh. Good, who were you talking to?" Yami thought for a minute

"Just myself yugi." Yugi nodded, not looking very convinced and sat down on the couch.

"I. I had a dream about Ryou," he said, his voice breaking.

"Really?"

"Yah, he was in my room. Oh yami! I miss him so much!" Yugi began to sob into Yami's shirt and yami rapped his arms around the smaller boy, trying to look behind the couch.

()()()(()()

Ryou lay behind the couch, listening. He heard Yugi mention his name.

"I had a dream about Ryou." Yami responded.

"And he was in my room, I miss him!" Yugi began to cry and Ryou felt his heart ripping in half. Yugi had never been anything but kind to him and now he couldn't understand why he was doing this to his friend. He felt so bad, he just wanted to make it right. He stood up and walked around the couch. Yami stared at him. He came around and put a hand on Yugi's shoulder.

"It wasn't a dream."

A/N: oh to leave it here or not

Yugi: now that is just uncalled for!

Ryou: don't. you. Dare.

Bakura: if you want to live to Hallowene then you'd better continue, the readers are preparing to kill you

You guys wouldn't do that to me.would you?

Readers: you never know

Well, since my mood and the writers blocka are giving me more ideas I won't leave this here, sorry for the interruption.

"Ryou?!" Yugi stared at him, open mouthed.

"Yes Yugi, it's me, don't cry." Yugi opened and closed his mouth for a few seconds.

"But. But. You're d.dead." Ryou sat down on the couch next to Yugi.

"It's a long story."

"And we've got a long time." Ryou sighed and told Yugi the story.

When it was finished Yugi simply continued to stare at Ryou.

"So Aibou, that's what's going on."

"Am I the last one to know?" Yugi looked a bit insulted, now that the shock was waring off.

"Actually, you're the second one to know, Yami knows and that's it, and that's how it has to be."

"But. But why?" Yami glared at Ryou who looked a little sheepish.

"Because, I'm. I'm trying an experiment on Bakura, to see how much he really cares."

"That's sick," Yugi said. Ryou sighed and threw up his hands.

"Why does everyone say that! I've taken crap from him for years, and now I'm getting a little constructive payback." Both of them stared. "Hey, I can have my revenge if I want to."

"Ryou, I've come to a decision." Yugi said matter of factly.

"And what is that?"

"That you've spent to much time with Bakura and you've completely lost your mind!"

"Probably, but can I trust you to keep this a secret?" Yugi sighed and looked over at Yami.

"Just do it Yugi, it's worth it." Yugi nodded slowly.

"Alright, I can do that for you."

"Thank you Yugi!" Ryou hugged his friend.

"OK then," Yugi said, and the doorbell rang.

"damn! why does this all happen in one day!" Ryou cursed, jumping behind the couch. Yugi went to answer the door. It was Tea, Joey, Seto and Triston.

"O, oh hi guys," Yugi said, lowering his voice into a grieved tone.

"Hey Yug, how're you doing?"

"I. I'm doing ok, how about you guys??"

"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to us." Tea sobbed, taking a tissue from Joey's back pocket. (not what you think! Hentai!)

"Well, I'm kind of bu,"

"Can we come in?"

"Well, I,"

"thanks Yugi," Triston came right in, followed a little more quietly by the rest.

"So," Yugi said, trying not to look at the couch every moment "What are you guys doing here? I don't mean to sound rude or anything."

"Oh, that's ok Yug, Seto here says he can help us with. Uh. Arrangements." Joey's voice broke and he reached into his pocket for the tissue, finding it gone he stared at Tea who just blew her nose.

"Yes, I know it's a bit soon to be making arrangements, and I am sorry for your loss," said Seto coolly. "I just thought, I checked with the police, apparently there was no body, but they found fragments of clothing that had his DNA on it and they assume the fire was to grate to have kept his body in tact."

"stop talking bout Ryou like he was a puzzle!" Joey said, launching himself at Kaiba."

"Sit down joey." Triston said, sitting on the floor and pulling Joey down next to him.

"Thank you triston, well, I was thinking, with the money from Kaiba Corp we could afford an empty casket, so people have something to look at and mourn over. There would be nothing in it of course, but I thought it might help."

"That's a good idea seto, thank you very much."

"Why're you thanking him! He's tryin ta," Tea smacked Joey across the face.

"Shut up Joey," she said, then looked at her wrist. Kaiba smirked and went into the kitchen.

"What is it Tea?" Yugi asked, seeing the look on her face.

"When I hit Joey, I think my bracelet flew behind the couch."

"Be. Behind the couch?"

"Yah, I'll get it, just a second." She stood up and was about to look over.

"No!" she turned around to stare at Yami. The spirit's hands were clenched.

"I'll get it." He hopped up on the couch.

"No, it's ok, I can do it."

"No, I insist," Yami said, trying to push her back down.

"Yami, stop it, I'll get the fricken bracelet myself," she pushed him off the couch and leaned over.

"I wouldn't do that if I were," but Yugi didn't get any farther before there was a piercing scream.

"What is it Tea?" Joey asked.

"Ry. Ry." She looked like she was going to pass out.

"What are you talking about?" Joey got up and walked over to the couch as Yugi just shut his eyes tight. Triston followed him and they both looked over. Yugi didn't even need to open his eyes to hear them both scream and the thuds to the floor.

"This isn't good." Yami muttered, pulling himself off the floor.

()()()()()

Ryou heard Teas bracelet fall next to him and prayed she wouldn't notice. Unfortunately for him, she did, and next thing he knew he was meeting her eyes and she was screaming. Joey and triston had looked next and then passed out.

"What's going on out here?" Kaiba came back into the room, glass of water in hand. Ryou decided that if the rest knew then it'd be better for Kaiba to find out the same way.

"They're freaked out to see me," he said, standing up from behind the couch. Kaiba's mouth opened and the glass slipped out of his hands, shattering at his feet, but he made no move to pick it up.

"Ry. Ry. Ryou?" he stammered.

"In the flesh," Ryou said, climbing over the couch and coming to stand in front of them all.

"You. You were dead a few minutes ago." Kaiba muttered, looking like a goldfish. Joey and Triston were coming too on the floor.

"I thought I saw Ryo.ahh!" They both stared with their mouths open.

"Ok, everyone can close their mouths now." Ryou said impatiently.

"Ryou. If you don't mind me asking a simple question."

"What's the question Tea?"

"What the hell are you doing here!?" Ryou smiled a little sheepishly.

"Uh, long long story."

"Not to long to tell."

"Do I really have to tell this again?" he said, looking at Yami.

"Yep, you do the deed, you suffer with the consequences, now tell away so that everyone can close their mouth." So he told his story for the 3rd time in a row that day.

When he was finished everyone's mouth was still open, and they were all still staring at him.

"What am I? An exhibit!?" that at least got them to close their mouths.

"Well, why doesn't Bakura know."

"Because Ryou feels like being a bastard." Yami muttered.

"Shut up Yami, no , it's because I want to know if he really cares about me." They all looked a bit confused, but that was short lived as the doorbell rang. Yami looked out of the window and saw Hbakura.

"shit."

"Why the hell is everyone coming over here, he's already been he." But he didn't get to finish, Yami picked him up and dropped him behind the couch. Joey, who didn't seem to have heard a word that had been said, followed Yami to the door.

"Hello Yami, sorry to come back, I just wanted. To er. Check if you were ok, you seemed kind of. Er, strange earlier."

"No, I'm perfectly fine I hope you're doing ok and that." He stopped as Joey came bouncing past him.

"Bakura! Guess what! Guess who's here!"

"Joey!"

())())()()()()()

A/N: cliffies galore!

Bakura: guess her mood wasn't as good as you all hoped

Nope, I'm feeling evil

Ryou: what's new

Shush tenshi, at least you're not injured

Bakura: if that happened again I'd have to send you on a little trip to the shadow realm

You wouldn't do that to me.would you?

Bakura: in a heart beat

But. But. Then the readers wouldn't get the next chapter of this story!

Bakura: damn, I can't kill you off until you finish this, angry readers aren't fun to deal with

How wel I know it. Well, you can all celebrate! This is the longest chapter yet! I'm so proud, 8 pages! It's the longest chapter I've written to anything, and I'm feeling pretty happy, and sorry to all the joey lovers who didn't' like him being such a dork, but it was necessary, and I think I'm actually going to make Tea barable in this fic, just cuz I don't feel like writing anything annoying. Tune in next time to find out what stupid thing Joey's about to say.and now you all know what time it is!

Ryou: oh! Oh! I know! 2:15!

.yes, but it's also time for thank you's Ryou-chan.

Ryou: oh, right ho then

Malik Aibou: thanks for reviewing, and I'm updating now! Finally! And I want to know what happens too.I don't even know

Darkangal322: thanks for your review, you is my friend!...i'm strange.yes

Nightmare: I shal obey your command, thank you, you made me feel cool, thank you, see, you isn't the only one who repeats yourself.cool exit!

Molly-chan the anime/game fan: thanks for answering, I'll keep the bloopers. I confused you? Sorry, if you stay confused, email me or IM me and I'll unconfused you if I can. And of course it can get worse! It always does.and your wish is granted!

IronAndYukito: You added me to your favorites! I love you!.not like that! Well, thanks for coming back, and I'm honored that you'd read this again, you made me feel really special! Sorry I made you die waiting.and you changed your Account name! you confuddled me, and made me memorize again.but tis ok, thankies!

Queen of games 2: you're not hallucinating anymore! It's finally here!.I mean, you've stopped imagining it's not.um.glad you liked this, I love peeps who come back again! And Yami isn't crazy.he's just.oh forget it, he is nuts!

Windswift: you think I do cliffies well? Yayness! Thanks for the compliment, I liked the review, and you're welcome for the chocolate! Thanks for you opinion, I won't be posting bloopers again, but I'll keep the old ones there, those were just to brake the writers block, thanks! And Ryou really needs to work on his creeping skills ne? Thanks again

Queen of Eternal Darkness: unfortunately, yes, he does have to hit a tree, cuz I'm mean, thanks for reviewing

Yami Krissy: You must've missed chappy 4, and you were first to review for ch3, thankies for both reviews

Dark Moon Fairy: Ryou is ot evil!...ok, he kind of is, but that's not the point, hope you brain keeps going

Ok, that's it, and don't mind all the exclimation points! I'm just so happy that this is so long and that people are still coming back to read it! Thanks to all of you, and I have another question that you don't have to answer.someone called me twisted in a review for another story! Am I really?.or do I not want to know the answer, well, if you don't think I am, then go read "if you give tea a friend." You'll change your mind in a hurry. Well, gotta go, it's time for swim practice.*groans*

TTFN

Katia-chan