By the time Yugi and the rest of the group had come back the next day, Bakura was still there. He hadn't moved at all. Not eaten, not slept, not taken his weary eyes off his weak hikari for even a second. The doctors said that he was in something called a coma. They were even less hopeful than they were the day before.

Yugi and his friends heard the news as well. They also wondered how Bakura would react to it.

They agreed this time that it would be best to go in one at a time, with Yugi last. Tea went first.

She opened the door slowly, and watched Bakura make no acknowledgment of her presence. Feeling safe, for now, she approached the bed and knelt down next to Ryou.

"Ryou… I know we haven't been the closest of friends… not since we all went to Duelist Kingdom together." She whispered, glancing up at Bakura every now and then. "But you always had a special place in my heart. You have always been my friend. You know that, right?"

She cried a little.

"He's not going to answer you…" Bakura whispered in a hoarse voice. Tea turned around with a shock. "They said he can't… He can hear you… but he can't wake up…"

Tea nodded.

"I'm sorry we made you climb that wall blindfolded… I should have known you wouldn't try to look up my skirt…" she sniffled. "And I'm sorry we didn't trust you more… it was just…"

She decided to stop that sentence right there.

"Why won't he wake up?" Bakura asked weakly, interrupting her anyway.

She looked over at the former spirit of the millennium ring. His normally spiky hair had drooped over his face. His eyes had glossed over, layers of tears hardened around the edges. But his eyes themselves had long been dry. His face was unusually pale, and his body quivered a little.

"Bakura… are you all right?" she asked. Based on his confusion, it was probably the first time someone ever asked the former spirit that. "Do you want me to go get you anything?"

He shook his head.

"What the hell could you possibly offer me?" he scoffed, and returned to stroking Ryou's hand. His voice cracked. "Not unless you can wake him up."

"I'm sorry, Bakura…" she tried in vain to smile. "I can't…"

She slowly got up, and walked to the door. Bakura looked so tired, she thought to herself. Had he really been sitting there all night? Did he ever leave yesterday?

Tristan went in next, while Tea took Yugi aside.

"Yugi, I never thought I'd say this… but I'm a little worried about Bakura."

Yugi looked up inquisitively.

"I don't think he ever left Ryou yesterday…" she sighed. "He looks like he hasn't even slept since Ryou was brought here…"

"I'll let my yami try and talk to him when I go in." Yugi smiled. "But I must admit, I never would have imagined Ryou's yami being so concerned about him. I always figured if he had a body of his own, he'd be gone in an instant, committing some high profile crime, and then escaping into the darkness with his new treasure."

"No, he cares. You can tell." Tea added. "He cares more about Ryou than any of us ever realized."

She paused for a moment.

"It's like he loves him."

"Maybe he does…"

Their conversation ended when Kaiba stepped out of the room. He tapped Yugi on the shoulder, indicating that he could go in next.

Yugi walked inside cautiously.

"Any change, Bakura?" he asked the former spirit directly.

"What do you think…" Bakura mumbled. Tea was right. He was a ragged snapshot of his former self. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. He turned to Ryou.

"Ryou… you and I have shared experiences that no one else in the world can relate to…" Yugi changed the topic quickly. "For that, you are like a brother to me… And I know you're strong. If anyone can pull through this, you can…so you pull through, all right?"

"He can't answer you…" Bakura whispered. Yugi pretended not to hear that.

"You were always there for us when we needed you. I know your life was hard… but you never gave up. Not once… And no one here is going to give up on you now. We're all rooting for you. Even your yami. He's here. He hasn't left your side…"

Bakura was startled at the mention of his presence.

"He cares for you, a lot. He doesn't admit it, but it's clear. He wants to see you better. We all do." Yugi held Ryou's other hand. "And when all this is over, you and I will be out there dueling again… I promise. We'll duel together! I owe you a game of Monster World, anyway… we haven't played that since… well… since that first time…"

Ryou didn't stir. The machines beeped again, startling Bakura. His sudden jump caught Yugi's attention.

"Bakura?"

The former spirit raised his head a little.

"You look tired. Why don't I watch Ryou for a few minutes, while you take a nap?" Yugi suggested with a smile.

"He's my hikari, brat… I'll watch over him…" Bakura answered with a weak grunt. His unfocused eyes made Yugi a little concerned.

"Bakura, have you slept at all since you became human?"

He mumbled something incoherently.

"Have you had anything to eat today?"

Again, he was answered with an incoherent mumble. This time, Yugi really was concerned.

"Bakura. You've got a human body now that you have to take care of! You need to…"

The former spirit stood up abruptly, and charged towards Yugi.

"Listen! I don't need you… or any of your pathetic… friends… to tell me what's best… for…" Bakura stumbled as he tried to walk. He grabbed onto Ryou's bed for a little support. "…what's best for… us…"

And then he collapsed.

Yugi stood startled for a second, and then opened the door.

"Nurse! Nurse!" he shouted. The rest of his friends also came rushing as soon as they heard Yugi call for help. "We need help in here!"

Tea's suspicions were correct. Yami Bakura, exhausted and dehydrated, had finally succumbed to the limits of his human body. The group was more than a little unnerved by the concern they suddenly felt for the same spirit who usually wanted to kill them. Given the circumstances, though… anything was possible.