I think this fic is getting boring... Oops...

Pharaoh Star Yami: Glad I'm not confusing people now! Well, not as much...

Dark Magician Girl / Hikaru: Yup, 'Kura's worried! And yup, that was the 'real world'.

Anime Crazed: Ryou's mind is no longer in the 'real world'; that's all I can tell you. And this fic was designed to be mildly confusing throughout.

DojomistressAmbyChan: There are two Bakuras cause I say there are. Ryou's like that because I say, you'll just have to wait to find out the why and how of it!

"What we're saying, Ryou, is that we will try and help you get home, but there is only so much we can do, and you will need an escort anywhere you go. But until you leave, you have my grace, and can roam the city as you please, but be warned, if you are caught being in anyway abusive to anything or anyone here, you will be locked up and tried like anyone here would be, you understand?"

"Of course. But right now, all I really want to do is sleep. If that's ok?" Ryou said, the exhaustion of the day finally getting to him.

"Sleep?! At 10:30 in the morning?! You really are the antisocial one aren't you?!"

"10:30?! Last I checked it was about 11:30 at night!"

"Well, must be a time difference."

"From where?! The last I knew I was in my warm, comfortable bed at home! Then I wake up and start getting attacked by these wisps of smoke! I just want to go home!" Ryou yelled, sobbing the last part, and turning to bury his face in the first thing available which happened to be Bakura's chest.

The angel was, shocked, to say the least when the little boy latched onto him, but then, he reasoned, if he looked so like Ryou, the odds were that he looked like his yami, so he was probably going to end up babysitting the cute little homesick boy.

Hang on! Cute!? Was he falling for him or something?!

"Bakura? Seen as you're getting on with our guest so well, you wouldn't mind looking after him, would you?"

Yami was too predictable; Bakura could see that coming a mile off. He sighed.

"Of course, but where will he sleep? My house has only got one bedroom, and I doubt he'll want to sleep on the couch.

################################# That night ##################################

"I don't believe I agreed to this." Bakura muttered as he pulled his duvet closer, his feet hanging off the side of the small couch and his head resting on the arm of it, the cushions of which had fallen off with his constant wriggling, so his head was on the oak arm rest, which was very uncomfortable.

"Why am I here? Why am I here?" He heard Ryou mutter from the next room; his heart-breaking sobs clear for the Angel to hear.

Bakura wasn't sure if he just got fed up, or if he actually wanted to do what he did next, but he slowly got of the couch and walked over to the bedroom door.

"Ryou?" He said gently, pressing his ear to the door.

"It's open, I wasn't expecting you to last the night anyway."

Bakura had to chuckle lightly, he didn't know quite why, but this little boy made him slightly light-headed.

He pushed the door open and walked in, freezing when he saw the boy on the bed.

Ryou was sat up, a book in his hands, and the light from the bedside lamp shone gently on to his bare torso. He was beautiful. But something else caught Bakura's eye; gentle shiny lines flowed over his chest. Ryou had obviously caught him looking, and when he saw the others slightly stretched wings, he jumped, pulling the sheets up to his neck and snuggling down under them.

"I'm sorry, I know I should have been asleep, and I shouldn't have touched your stuff, but I've wanted to read this for ages, you seemed so like my yami, I guess I should have left it. I'm sorry." Ryou began to stutter his eyes slightly wide and they were watching Bakura's face, carefully searching for any sign that the other was angry. He looked like a scared rabbit, Bakura knew then that he would have to be very careful not to upset this boy, but also that the other would obey any rules he or anyone else set down instantly and without question.

"It doesn't matter, if you haven't already got a copy, you can have that if you want." Bakura said gently, gesturing to the book.

"T-Thank you." Ryou said. He looked as though kindness was a rare emotion shown towards him.

"Where'd you get those scars? If you don't mind my asking."

"Oh, I err, I don't often do what is expected of me at home. I have to be put in my place."

Bakura felt his blood boil. How could anyone hurt such a perfect little boy?

"Who? Tell me who did this to you, and the next time I see them I swear I'll tear their head off!" Bakura said, his tone harsher than he'd intended it and he realized this fact to late as he saw Ryou recoil.

Gently sitting down on the bed, Bakura offered his hand to the other, feeling the tension in the room.

"I'd rather you didn't mutilate Bakura." He said simply. And those words confused Bakura to the max.

"What? You mean your yami did this?! Yamis are supposed to be protectors! Their duty is to their hikari's happiness and health! And why are you so fussed about going home if he hurts you?"

Ryou nodded, curling his knees to his chest and resting his head face down on them.

"Yes, my yami, Bakura, did this, and I know he's a bit of exception, but I'm still happy with him, and I've never even had to take a pain killer. And... and I'm so fussed about going home, because... because... because I love him! Oh gods Bakura. I love him so much it hurts! I just wish he would feel the same, but I know he'd be disgusted with me. He'd hate me. I'm lucky with what I've got."

Bakura could only guess that his eyes looked like flying saucers and his jaw was on the floor. The sheer extent of this statement had knocked the Angel senseless. How could Ryou love his yami if he hurt him? It was impossible! Unless, maybe this was some weird sex game? He voiced his idea.

Ryou peeked up at him, a wistful look on his face.

"Oh if only that were true." He muttered

"But it's nothing but hate. I'm just the stupid, impotent, worthless bitch of a hikari that holds him back."

Bakura growled. It was bad enough his yami insulted him, without he himself adding insult to injury by calling himself as well. The Angel put a tentative hand on his new house mates shoulder and sighed, wishing he could wrap the other in his arms and curl up with him, keeping him safe for ever.

"You can touch me you know, I won't break. Do what you like, that's why I'm on this planet."

"No it's not. You're a person with feelings. You're not some sex toy or punch bag or anything else. You have a choice."

"You don't have to touch me as though I'll break if you so much as lay a finger on me."

"But you look like you would. You're so butifull and angelic..."

"Looking. Angelic looking."

"I know." And with that, Bakura pulled the boy against him in a tight hug and he went to sleep almost instantly.

'It must be so easy for him to pretend that his dream's come true, that I'm his yami and the one he loves is cuddling him now, but he has to remember that's not true, before someone get's hurt.' Bakura thought, before he too drifted off to sleep.