---Done? Ha ha! I am far from done... there's so much more to write. Hehehe.

I hope everyone had good holidays.

No more killing in this story. Actually Malik/Marik wasn't even supposed to die in the original outline... but things change. And this was supposed to be my fluffy-no-one-die story. Ah well.

Disclaimer: I own you all!!!! (Not really)

Warnings: nothing I don't think...---

Chapter Nine
Lying From You

The snow fell listlessly around Domino as the two ambled though the park. The smaller of the two leaned his head on the other, holding his companion's arm as they walked. Atemu looked down at Yugi, who was attached to his arm. He smiled.

"We should be heading home, aibou," Atemu said, watching his breath as he talked.

"Aw... but it's so beautiful out here," Yugi said, looking up at his yami.

"I know, but it's cold," said Atemu, "I don't want you to get sick, especially so close to... that holiday you keep talking about."

"Christmas, yami"

"Yeah that."

Yugi sighed and nuzzled into Atemu's arm again, but something caught his eye. He lifted his head and stopped. Atemu stopped also and glanced over his shoulder.

"What is it, aibou?"

Yugi didn't answer. He let go of Atemu's arm and walked over to the nearest bench. Atemu followed.

"Yugi?"

"It's Ryou," the hikari answered quietly. Atemu looked over Yugi's shoulder at the bench and indeed it was. The white haired teen was curled up on the bench, a thin layer of snow around him. "Is he still alive?"

"He seems to be breathing," said Atemu. He reached over and brushed the snowy hair away from his neck, feeling for a pulse. It was very faint.

"We've got to take him home," Yugi told his yami, "He'll freeze to death if he stays here."

"You're right Yugi," Atemu nodded. The two picked Ryou up carefully and carried him back to the game shop.

Ryou shivered. The cold penetrated everything, even his Soul Room. The room around him was dark; the walls black. The only light in the room was coming from the soft glow Ryou had. Most of the things in the room were broken, which fit perfectly with how he felt.

Ryou sat in the middle of the room, looking down at the broken piece of mirror in his hand. Several cuts were littered on both his arms, all self inflicted - punishments to himself for running again; for being weak.

Ryou didn't even flinch as he added another cut to his collection; he couldn't feel anything in this cold. He licked his lips as he watched the blood flow from the cut and down his arm. He brought his arm up to his mouth to lick away the blood and was surprised to feel the liquid in his mouth.

"Why isn't it cold like everything else?" He asked himself. He blinked as his whole body started to tingle with warmth. "What's going on?"

Ryou decided to check out what was going on outside his Soul Room.

The bed was cozy; the sheets and blankets warm against his frigid skin. Ryou opened his eyes and blinked them a few times, trying to adjust them to the light of the room. However, the light made his head hurt, so he just closed his eyes, snuggling deeper into the warmth. He felt the bed move as someone sat down beside him.

"Do you think he'll be ok?"

Ryou ears perked when he heard it was Yugi talking.

"Well, he's awake now," answered Atemu, "That's a good sign."

"Yeah," Yugi said, noticing Ryou stir. He leaned over his white haired friend, "Ryou?"

Ryou opened his again and kept them open, despite how heavy his eyelids felt. Yugi smiled down at him. Atemu stood over in the doorway.

"How do you feel?" Yugi asked quietly.

"... Cold..." Ryou whispered, but he didn't mind the cold. It numbed the pain so he could stand it much easier.

"I'm sorry Bakura did this to you."

"... Kura...?" Ryou closed his eyes. It seemed so long since he'd seen his darker half... so long since Bakura was the one that has hurt him. He felt an ache in his heart and he felt like crying again. "Not him..."

"Shh, Ryou it's ok," Yugi said comfortingly, "You don't need to lie anymore."

Ryou didn't answer to that. He just laid there with his eyes closed. He heard Yugi sigh.

"Come on, Aibou," Atemu said from the doorway, "He needs his rest."

Ryou felt Yugi get up off the bed and heard the door close. Ryou opened his eyes again, staring up at the ceiling. He had lied so much in his life that they didn't even believe him when he was telling the truth. Atemu was probably mad at Bakura now. Ryou frowned; Bakura hadn't really done anything this time.

Ryou felt sorry that Bakura was the one at fault when it was himself that had caused his own pain. Ryou sniffed and hid his face in the pillow. After a short time, he fell asleep again.

---Awww? ---