Yami's koi: I'm back. Slightly happier because of the new chappie, and the kick-ass reviews, along with the kick-ass reviewers.

Neutral Man: I don't understand your ideas, and you told me yesterday.

Yami's koi: that is because I'm the Authoress. I find it hard to explain. I'll have my work cut for me when Ryou realises Ra's price.

Bakura: I repeat, make a price too great and you'll pay dearly.

Yami's koi: Er, ok. Cowers See you at the end!

I open my eyes, hoping to wake and discover it had been a dream. That it had all been in my head. I was alive, I was with Bakura. That everything was okay.

If only I could put myself under that illusion.

I am faced with a person, one without actual eyes, replaced with large sapphire orbs. It makes it very difficult for me to interpret his current emotions, yet I can sense he is angry, or extremely sorrowful. He wears a white headpiece with a blue ribbon wrapped around it. To cover his nakedness he wears a cotton – dare I say it – towel around his waist, folded over into a complicated looking knot. His bronzed chest is fully exposed, save the jewel-encrusted gold worn around his neck. Doubtless an Egyptian.

Should I quake in fear at the figure before me? No. I have faced death. What could possibly be worse?

"Does Ryou Bakura know to whom he looks upon?" A deep, rumbling voice asks, startling me from my internal pain. I stare into his large 'eyes,' almost fearful at the power in his voice. Rivalling even the Pharaoh's own.

"No." I answer quietly. I don't know what else to say. To be honest, who would? A dark plane appears in replacement of the dank underworld, and an authoritative sounding – and looking – male emerges. How am I supposed to react? Fall onto my knees and kiss his feet? I don't think so.

He chuckles darkly at my reply. "And why should you?" He asks, "Why should the modern age believe in a God which religion died centuries ago? Though I am curious. I entrusted Bakura into your care, did I not? Fortunate that he should fall in love with his own hikari."

"What do you mean?" I whisper, my heart throbbing at Bakura's name having a mention. He loved me, he truly did. And all I did in return was suicide and obstruct him from my feelings. I didn't tell him what was tearing me apart. How could I be so foolish as not to see it? Yami's love for Yugi I recognised immediately!

The Egyptian smiles wryly, raising his arms to unmask something that makes me automatically gasp. A man stands behind him, bearing an ankh.

"I give you the God of Rebirth and Death, Osiris," The God declares, pointing to himself after, "and myself, Ra, the Sun God."

My eyes widen at that. Ra and Osiris?! Too freaky. Are they going to condemn me to an eternal torment in Hell? Or simply scorn me for the nature of my death?

I decide both.

Bakura POV

He has not breathed for many minutes now. All I can do is weep, weep until I have no tears left to shed. I tremble, blaming myself for never asking how he was feeling. How his day had gone. Hating myself for using my first few months with him by harshly delivering pain to that fragile body of his. Now broken further by the cuts that still seep with his blood.

The shudders really begin to rack my body now at the sight of so much blood around his body. Saliva gathers in my mouth, and I know that isn't a good sign. I race to the bathroom, choke up my vomit until my sides ache. I shiver like a frail person, ridding myself of the aftertaste with splashes of water into my mouth.

It's like I thought before. Why have a link, why be bonded so tightly like that only to prevent the other from knowing what truly is tormenting them? I almost envy the Pharaoh for his happiness. For the closeness of he and Yugi. How can I continue now without my Ryou? Will my Millennium Ring aid me somehow in finding him again?

Then I laugh at my stupidity. I act almost as if he will come back. Almost as if his death did not happen. Ra gave me the gift of life again for many reasons. One being to protect and assist my light when needs be. And what have I done? Nothing. Only devastation. My hand runs through my hair.

What will become of me?

Ryou POV

"R-Ra and O-Osiris?" I stutter, tensing as I feel a flash of amusement from the two Gods. I flinch as Osiris' eyes latch onto my own. Instead of his orb-like eyes coloured as a darker blue, his are entirely black, matching perfectly our surroundings. They are soulless, and even jaded with bitterness and a dutiful manner. It perplexes me.

And then I remember what Ra had said. The God of Death. I can picture how his eyes would have been before he had undertaken such a responsibility. They would be wider than they currently are, and an emerald shade. He would not look quite so saddened in his features, either.

"Such a naïve mortal," Ra laughs, "And yet so blackened by what he deemed was his life. Strange how certain hikari's may do so much better, isn't it? Or at least happiness wise. You were crafted much akin to Yugi Mutou. That is from whence your original innocence originated."

"Why, little Ryou?" Osiris asks then, "why torture yourself so? And why must you pain your Tomb Robber in such a way? His thoughts tell me he knows not of what he shall become now without you beside him. Seems that even the yami's may be lonely and depressed. Does my master agree?"

"He does," Ra replied. His eyes seem to grow icier, though I find myself struggling to know for sure. All I have is his voice to tell me how he feels. And even then it is tainted with power. "You did not savour often the gift of life, did you little Ryou? Instead you did not see what you truly had."

"Mortals have negatives dominating the actual reality of things," Osiris cut in abruptly. "They do not understand that everyone has at least one hardship to deal with daily, and whether minor or major is for us to decide. And yet they assume it is their own actions that influence such occurrences. What complete folly."

I flinch and cower slightly at the anger in their voices, the chill of the atmosphere. I beg them to relent, and they only mock me harder.

"Why should we silence? This was your outlook on life, Master Ryou. Or at least your outlook until you realised that you had terribly erred. That you had your yami to live for."

"Please," I beg, streams of tears slipping down my cheeks to land at their feet, "please, don't do this to me!"

At last they fall quiet. Then Ra asks, in a low voice:

"Would Master Ryou be prepared to admit that life was not as it had seemed in those unlit days? Prepared to accept the consequences for his actions?" Osiris' head slowly turns to Ra's, almost in wonder. He knows, I think, he knows that something is underway. Something I will most probably hate and yet willingly oblige to.

"He would." I answer gradually. The God of Death then speaks in his native language to his master, only to be silenced with a palm raised. I watch, slightly confused.

"My mind has made its decision." Ra murmurs, "and for you to question me would mean torture. I suggest you remain hushed until prompted to speak."

He turns then back to me, and I feel his gaze probe into my mind. He lingers especially on my last moments alone, smirking slightly at the memory of Bakura's entry. At the panic I felt when I saw him watching. At the reasons I gave for why I suicided. I fear him, and this dank place without Bakura.

And I fear what he will do to me.

Bakura

"TOMB ROBBER!" A shout sounds from downstairs. My eyes narrow in spite of my grief. What fool dares enter my domain? Does he not know who I am?

I listen closely. Realising it is the Pharaoh. Too late I rub at my eyes. He races towards me, his koi entering my room. The Pharaoh asks how I am, and then I hear a loud, piercing scream. It seems I have some explaining to do. Yet at that thought, more tears fall.

"Ba-B-Bakura...?" Yugi manages through sobs as he returns. Yami abandons me and rushes to his light's side, hushing him and whispering comforting words.

And at the sight of them together my pain only increases. I avert my gaze.

The Pharaoh's eyes bore into my head, then divert to the easily visible room that is now my own. His eyes take in the blood, and he leaves Yugi there to cry as he examines its source. I hear him gasp, and swear repeatedly in our language. He turns slowly back, his eyes devoid of emotion. Granted, his cheeks have paled considerably. Yet he cannot compare to my internal heartache.

"Bakura?" He manages shakily, not quite so uncontrolled as his beloved, "what's happened here?"

I glance up at him and release a sob. A hand rushes to wipe my lips as my tears fall, renewed. I find no easy way in which I may tell him this. The only way I may choose is one of suffering. I clear my throat.

"Ryou, he... er..." I start, pausing to take a soothing breath. I can take my time with this. They can wait. "...Ryou has...committed suicide."

Their mouths fall open. Yugi bites his lip, hugging his yami tightly with his face turned to mine.

"He's dead? Why didn't he tell us?" He demands, stifled hastily by the Pharaoh. He seems to recognise my pain. A stray tear falls down his cheek, the only one that does so from him. He must pity me.

"Bakura..." Yugi began after a long cry, "d-did Ryou ever g-get to tell you that... h-he loved you?"

I allow more tears to fall before managing a nod.

Yami's koi: slightly longer. But I feel it's better than the second chap is.

Neutral Man: you didn't say what Ra would do to Ryou!

Yami's koi: it's for suspense, sorry if that annoys you dudes.

Bakura: GIRL! THEPHARAOHENTEREDMYHOUSE!

Yami's koi: er, so he did! But he'll play a vital part later, and Yugi, unless I cook up a different plot. Have any of you guessed Ra's plan? Hope not!

Neutral Man: I still don't understand! How can you do that?!

Yami's koi: sighs oh well. Reviews would be appreciated greatly. Plushie of Dark Magician Girl to those who do. Or if you don't like plushies, have some ice creams. So...BYE! Catch ya for the next chap!