I'm back again. This is either the last chapter or the second to last chapter, I haven't decided which yet.

Disclaimer: By this far into a story, I'd hope you'd seen it! Anyways….I've been lying to you all for the past five chapters! I really do own Yugioh! I bought it on eBay for five dollars! Maybe if I say it, someone will believe me. Heh…I need to stop kidding myself. By the way, all gullible lawyers, if I really did own Yugioh, it wouldn't be shown on Cartoon Network and Kids WB. Do I need to say more?

Fear of Falling: Hi again! Hehe…yes, that would be it. I had no clue you'd changed it. Yes, I will definitely tell you. Don't worry--it'll probably be hard to shut me up. :-D I will be updating as soon as I can, but by the time I post this, that message will be kind of…outdated. Hmm. Oh well. Very glad you still like it!

Molly ( ): Yes, I know no complaining. I write as long as I can! Then I feel like I either have to post or wait another too long…which doesn't make much sense now that I see it written down. Oh well.

Ashiki: Haha. Yes, I did make Yami evil. Well, I needed an evil, powerful guy who wouldn't mind--too much--if a priestess was mad at him. And since Marik would mind and Bakura isn't really all that bad here--he's not even a tomb robber yet--I had to have someone else. The Pharaoh was an obvious choice. To me at least….

So far, I have two votes for two chapters. And none for one chapter. Ah well--maybe more people will vote before I post this. And I'm going against the votes anyways--prepare for one long chapter. I'm serious, it's like 7 pages! That's twoover normal for me. Be proud, all of you!

And here we go!

Chapter 6

The two boys ran panting into the garden, having gotten there as fast as they possibly could. Ryou immediately sat down on one of the low walls, completely exhausted and suddenly aware of the perils they had barely escaped. Meanwhile, Bakura was looking around in wonder.

"I've never seen so much green…." He whispered. In the desert, green plants were rare, and those that did exist were only the fields along the Nile's banks. Of course, the farmers never let them anywhere near those fields, Bakura being a known troublemaker as a child.

The older boy turned to his brother. "How did you find out about this place? The door was invisible from the outside. And how do you know that the Pharaoh doesn't know about it too? Are you sure we're safe?"

Ryou laughed before pulling the older teen over to one of the low walls. "One question at a time, 'Kura!" He said, still giggling softly. "I'll explain that soon, the pharaoh has no clue this place exists, and yes, I'm positive we're safe."

There was a pause, but it was a comfortable silence. The pair sat quietly, looking around and enjoying just being alive.

Then Bakura spoke. "Have you been all right? Safe?"

The pale buy smiled as he answered his older brother. "I'm fine, 'Kura. Don't worry."

"Well, what's been going on? I've been trapped in a little dark room, I haven't had any news of what's happening. Tell me."

So Ryou told him about Malik, and Isis, and his life, and reassured the older teen that he was fine and safe. He told him about how Malik had shown him the garden and how much the Egyptian cared about him. By the time he had gotten most of the way through the story, it was past noon, and they had escaped before dawn.

Suddenly the pair heard footsteps. Turning around, Ryou suddenly leapt up, running towards the figure who had entered. "Malik!"

"Ryou!" Malik said, running towards the young teen and pulling him close. "Thank the gods you're safe…you didn't get back and I couldn't find you, I was so worried…" Still holding his lover close, he looked up. "And you are Bakura? Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"Really?" The older teen stood, walking over to the pair cautiously. "And how did you know it was me?"

"It wasn't hard." Malik answered. "First of all, Ryou told me what you looked like, so I could recognize you. And second of all, there are rumors all over the palace about your escape. Apparently, a guard was making his rounds, and when he got back, you were gone." By this point, the blonde was smiling, and his tone of voice clearly showed that he was sure there had been more to it than that, but wasn't going to ask.

Bakura smiled as well, which Ryou knew was his way of approving of Malik and probably also expressing thanks for taking care of his younger brother. Soon, all three were smiling and laughing.

Slowly, the conversation died and a calm silence fell over the small group. Malik pulled Ryou into his lap, burying his nose in the boy's pale hair. The young teen snuggled into his chest, obviously exhausted, and fell asleep almost immediately. Malik pulled the limp frame closer to him, smiling gently.

Suddenly Bakura spoke. "Hey. I just wanted to say…umm…thanks."

Malik looked over at the older man. "For what? It's not like I've really done anything for you."

"You took care of my little brother. Kept him safe from people who would have hurt him. Ryou's all I have left; as long as I know he's all right, I'll be able to handle whatever happens."

Malik sat quietly for a moment before answering quietly, "There's nothing I wouldn't do to keep him safe."

"I guessed." Bakura replied, staring out across the garden. He looked over at the blonde. "From what Ryou's told me, and what I've seen, you really care about him. That's what I'm thanking you for, really."

Malik nodded in understanding, and looked around. Suddenly he gasped. "Look at the sun! It's getting pretty late; my sister will be worried unless we get back soon. Listen, will you be all right here at night? It's safer than trying to sneak you back home., and…"

"I'll be fine," the pale-haired man answered. "Go ahead."

The blonde stood slowly, holding Ryou close to his chest. The young teen stirred, but didn't wake. Malik smiled gently at the young teen, then walk out quietly. Bakura relaxed and, watching as the stars appeared, eventually fell asleep.

As Malik walked towards home, he sighed and looked up at the sky. Stars had appeared, and the moon was just beginning to rise over the horizon. He shivered slightly and began to walk faster. Nights were cold in the Egyptian desert.

Suddenly he halted. A row of palace guards was standing in front of him. Looking back, they had surrounded him from the back as well. "What do you want?" he demanded.

"Hand over the slave and we will leave in peace." Was the answer.

The blonde teen was confused and angry now. "And why would I give you my property for no reason?" Of course Ryou was more than that to him, but the guards couldn't know that…

"Pharaoh's orders." Malik frowned. The pharaoh's orders…if he resisted, they could use force to carry out their orders. And that would obviously put Ryou in danger. But doing as they said would be no better…in fact, it would probably be worse.

'Damn it…' He thought. Out loud, he said, "And if I refuse?"

The answer was what he had expected. "Then we will be required to use our authority as enforcers of his word."

In other words, they'd use violence to get Malik to do what they wanted. One against over a dozen was NOT good odds….especially when he was holding Ryou, who hadn't woken up.

Well, he certainly wasn't going to hand over his lover…so it looked like he had to hope things worked out in his favor.

As he stood there, the guards finally realized that their threats weren't working. They charged at the teens, pulling their swords. Which Malik hadn't known they had. 'Oh great,' he thought. 'That brings the odds to about a million to one…'

He leaped aside as a sword clashed down beside him. The sudden noise of metal hitting the stone path woke Ryou, and as the young boy looked around, he buried his face into Malik's chest in fear.

"Shh, Ryou, it's all right," he murmured. Even though things probably wouldn't be all right. Suddenly his lover was yanked away from him. Ryou screamed as he was pulled away from his master, but couldn't resist.

"Ryou!" Suddenly Malik was almost a blur, kicking and punching at everyone around him. He felt a sword bite into his side, but it wasn't serious. 'I have to get to Ryou…'

Time seemed blurred, minutes seeming like barely a second as a scream of pain suddenly rang out. The guards backed away slowly, and the leader grinned as he motioned for the group to leave. Soon Malik was standing alone.

'Ryou….where's Ryou?' Frantically, the blonde looked around. They couldn't have taken him…they couldn't have…suddenly he caught sight of a limp figure lying on the ground.

"Ryou!" He yelled, running over to the unconscious boy. Picking him up, he cradled his lover in his arms. "Ryou, please, wake up…"

Slowly the young teen opened his eyes. "Malik…" he whispered with a small smile. "You're here…" With that his eyes fell closed again. Malik pulled the boy close. He had to be all right, he had to…he noticed a warm, sticky liquid running down his hand. Looking closer, he saw it was blood. But he hadn't been injured badly…

Then he realized…it wasn't his blood. Ryou had a huge gash across his back, and he was losing blood quickly. Looking him over, Malik noticed multiple, slightly smaller wounds. The boy couldn't survive if he kept losing blood at this rate…

Malik quickly stood, still holding his lover close to his chest. He broke into a run as he headed towards his sister's chambers. If anyone could help Ryou, it would be her…

He burst into Isis' bedroom, causing his sister to stand quickly, knocking over the chair she had been sitting on. Before he had the chance to say anything, she rushed over to him, taking Ryou into her arms. "Sit down," she told him. "You look exhausted." A gentle look came over her face. "You've done all you can for him."

The blonde teen nodded, collapsing onto a nearby stool. "Can you heal him?"

"I'm not sure yet. I need a chance to check him over." Isis could tell just by looking at the boy that the gods had decided the time for his death had arrived, but as long as there was even the possibility that Ryou may survive, her brother needed to hear that there at least may be hope.

Her brother nodded as he looked down at the unconscious slave. "Ryou…" he whispered. Isis watched sadly. She knew how much her brother cared for the dying boy; what would he do when he learned there was nothing she could do? She tore herself from those thoughts as she leaned over to examine Ryou's wounds more closely.

A few minutes later she stood. Immediately Malik looked at her anxiously. "Can you help him? Will he be all right?"

For a few moments, the priestess stood quietly, looking at the floor. Then she whispered, "There is nothing I can do."

Malik stared at her, his sister's words sinking in slowly. "No," he whispered. "No, you're joking…you must be…no…" Overcome by sorrow, he leaned over to his unconscious lover. "Ryou, no!"

Watching her brother cry, Isis almost broke into sobs as well. Malik had been too young to understand what was going on when their parents had died, but she was not. She knew what it was to lose someone you cared for. Gently she wrapped her arms around the blonde teen. "I'm sorry."

It was two days after the attack had occurred. Malik had sunk into a state of deep depression as the slave he loved had faded into death, and nothing could lift his spirits now. Often he would go to the garden and talk to Bakura, but even the thief could do nothing.

During one such visit, Bakura noticed that the blonde Egyptian was getting thinner. Unhealthily thinner. "Malik, what's up? You're losing weight."

"Yeah. I know."

Bakura glanced at the teen. "Aren't you eating? Hey…Malik, listen to me. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Don't worry."

Bakura was quiet for a minute. Then he said quietly, "If this has to do with Ryou, then I can tell you right now that he'd want you to get over it and live. He cared about you; he wouldn't want you to act like this!" Sighing, the man added, "Ryou cared about you. He would want you to live and be happy, not starve yourself to death."

The blonde teen looked up at him. "Maybe you're right. But would he have wanted me to live a life I didn't want?" Seeing Bakura's confused look, he continued, "Ryou is-was-my life. What else do I have? Isis, yeah, but she's so busy that I don't really ever get to see her for more than five minutes or so. Marik's an insane maniac, he cares for no one and no one really cares about him except to fear him. Before I met Ryou, I'd never known what it was to be alone, because I'd never known anything else. It doesn't hurt when it's all you have. But now I know another life, and I can't go back. I can't live alone anymore, and there's no one else who…I don't know, who knows me like that. I AM alone. And I can't live like that. So…there's only one other choice."

Bakura looked down before nodding in understanding. Then he looked directly into Malik's eyes. "I know what you're saying. It was hard enough when all I had left was my little brother. But…I still think you're making the wrong choice."

The teen smiled weakly. "There is no other choice for me now." Suddenly, he leaned over, as if he couldn't balance.

Bakura grabbed his arm, saying, "Malik, hey, what's wrong? MALIK!" As he spoke, the teen collapsed, unconscious. "Malik, wake up. This isn't funny!" He shook the blonde Egyptian, trying to bring him back to consciousness.

Suddenly Isis ran into the garden. Seeing her brother unconscious, she immediately rushed over to try to help. "Bakura, what happened?"

The pale-haired man frowned. "He just suddenly collap—wait, how do you know me?"

Isis reached to her neck and fingered the Tauk. "There is very little of importance that this doesn't show me," she answered. Seeing Bakura looking confused again, she added, "It allows me to see into the future at times, the past other times, and sometimes the present."

Bakura whistled. "Powerful magic."

Isis nodded, but said, "Now is not the time to compare magics. Have you noticed anything wrong with him recently?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "You mean besides that it looks like he's starving to death? Nope, nothing."

Isis collapsed onto one of the low walls. Resting her head in her hands, she whispered, "You're right. And I didn't even realize, because I'm never around…I'm the one who's supposed to be taking care of him, and I couldn't even notice that he was losing weight…" She began to sob. "I don't think I can do anything either."

Standing again and leaning down next to her brother, she felt his chest. "His heart isn't beating…" The priestess appeared to be in a state of shock. "He's gone."

Bakura stood suddenly. An angry, insane look appeared on his face. "This is all the Pharaoh's fault," he yelled. "If he hadn't gotten involved, him and his guards, Ryou would be here, Malik would be alive, everything would be all right! But he had to go kidnap Ryou, and then have him killed when we escaped, he had to go ruin our lives!" Continuing, the pale man said, "And what happened? Because of him, two more innocents are dead! They never did anything, why are they the ones who had to pay?"

Isis whispered, "The innocents are always the first to suffer. That is how this world has always worked, although we may wish otherwise."

Glancing at the woman, Bakura yelled, "It wouldn't work that way if people didn't make it work that way! In the end it's still all his fault, and I swear upon every god and everyone who has been killed, I will make him pay for it!" With that, he stormed out, not even looking back.

Watching him leave, Isis whispered, "Only darkness will come of this." Suddenly, a bright light appeared before her. Staring in wonder, she heard a voice.

"Greetings, my Priestess." Startled, the woman realized that this must be the goddess she served. "Do not fear me, Isis," the voice continued. "Yes, I am Tefnut. Do not fear; all will work out in the end. Things are going according to a larger plan, one even I cannot understand just yet. This plan will be played out over the next five thousand years, but the two spirits who have been taken from this earth too early will be reunited." The voice began to fade with the light, both disappearing slowly. The last words of the goddess echoed in the Egyptian woman's head. "All will be right in the end."

And here the story ends! (Dodges rotten tomatoes) DON'T KILL ME PLEASE! First go read the sequel, which is started, if you haven't read it already. THEN you can kill me, if you still want to. ….which I'm hoping you don't…PLEASE DON'T!

FIVE DAYS UNTIL JAPAN AND COUNTING! Hehe…I'm just a little excited…could you tell?

WRITIG BAKURA SENTIMENTAL IS REALLY HARD! So that last part probably seems really OOC and all that stuff—I apologize for that.