Yami's koi: it seems a lot of people are debating about where the hell Ryou is. Well… I've known since the second chapter.

Neutral Man: why not write a jolly old fic about the war?

Yami's koi: too demanding. Besides… I couldn't have Yami's head blown off. Well, it would be a decent story if Yugi were next to him… hey, is that a good idea?

Neutral Man: sighs see ya later…

I sigh and snuggle against my lover's chest contentedly. He smiles and kisses my hair of a chestnut hue and settles back, crushing me to his chest in a warm, loving embrace. Covers come to shelter us from the cold, and I feel that nothing else can make me happier.

We have just made love. Fuck, how I ever managed to live with the curse called virginity is an unthinkable prospect. Now that I am... bound to someone, I cannot unmake it. The kisses whilst he prepared me distracted me from the discomfort I was experiencing. The areas of my body being teased in our foreplay. The way that each thrust hit my sensitive prostrate every time.

I whimper in protest when I feel the comforting arms around me fall to his side as Ra rises, getting out of bed. Oh shit… is this a rejection? A silent declaration that I displeased him somehow, that he realised our actions were a mistake to be forgotten?

Noting my scared look, Ra smiles at me sweetly. "No, Osiris. I have not deserted to. I feel that we should check on our newest subject…"

I too, smile, and stand to be beside him. I wind my hands around his bare body, kissing lightly his exposed neck from behind. I feel him melt in my arms, and I sigh.

A thin mist swirls before us and, with the uttered word of summoning, we see ourselves faced in an unfamiliar expression on an innocent face. Or, at least, that was how Ryou 'knew' it to be.

Yugi his name is, and tears are falling down his cheeks. Yami, his lover, attempts to comfort him using their link, in vain. Ryou too, seems to be distressed also, weeping much more quietly than his supposed friend is. Several people nearby are either laughing at them or containing their own feelings of pity for the poor Mutou. Obviously, no pain would be felt for Ryou, as the new student never had many friends to begin with. He could feel upset if he so desired. Reading Ryou's thoughts, I hear many along the lines of, 'Why, Jou? Why did Shadow have such a grudge? What did you ever do to harm him?

My eyes narrow. This wasn't a part of our plan…

Bakura

I have not moved since first hearing that voice. I am completely fathomed, thrust totally into the dark abyss of bewilderment, as to how I can hear my hikari's beautiful, lilting voice.

I shake my head. Surely I cannot be hearing this. Ryou is dead, gone forever…

ARGH! Iie, because I am going to bring him back, with the aid of an unwilling Pharaoh and another broken hikari. Provided that Ryou has not inspired Yugi to harm himself… then I am content with their company.

Things are beginning to get odder. Stretching over to tear a small piece of paper from Yugi's third of the table, along with a pen, I begin to create a timeline of events.

23rd July 2004, 3:30 – Ryou died. Same day – began to search through texts. At roughly 6:45 – strange dark marks, varied in size and colour, appear on Pharaoh and Yugi. 24th July – begin to hear voices.

I pause, and hazard a glance in both Mutou's direction. I note they are both staring at me.

"Have you found anything, Bakura? You appear to be writing a lot."

The Pharaoh. Always so foreword and confident, whereas his hikari is so silent and often shy.

I shake my head, hastily thrusting the paper into my pocket. I shall consult it later and evaluate the evidence then.

Fuck! Why did you ever have to be so violent? You could have prevented your sister's death!

"Holy fucking shit!" I cry out, racing towards the phone. I note my hikari's phonebook on the shelf in which the phone once lay on before I pick both up. The book is locked. Smirking, I produce my knife once more to pick the lock. These modern objects are so easy to hack into… even Kaiba's mainframe computer system, though he is not aware of my small breaking in to overlook and alter several statistics.

It is now open, and I look under J, for her last name. I find Shizuka's number, and dial it. Anxiously I press the phone to my ear, desperately hoping against hope that she shall answer the call.

"Moshi-moshi?"

"Shizuka, you're alive! Thank bloody Ra! Right, ignore this phone call." I say breathlessly, hanging up swiftly. I have no time left for questions, especially from Shizuka's mouth. As long as she is okay… hey, why should I care? I can't even stand the girl!

Still… I think that this experience for me has made me seek allies in the most unlikely of places, in my dire situation. Take Yami, for example. I have even taken to naming him by his birth name… how sad of me.

To seek aid from an enemy would be something usually I would scorn.

I never meant for me to say this so unexpectedly…

There it goes again! A voice, probably hopeful dreams from my grieving mind, is clearly fake. Ryou never speaks… spoke… so oddly. Almost as if he is broken. Haunted, scared, horrified, whatever you wish to call it. All I know is that I need answers. And, the sooner I can find them… the quicker I will be able to feel Ryou in my arms.

Ryou

"I know that I am far from being fair, telling you here," I say quietly, a fresh tear shed from my eyes falling down my cheek as I speak, "Yet you would never have forgiven me if I had never informed you. I think the entire school shall be told later today… an official announcement."

Yami says nothing, and just stares at his light. He slowly brings his arms around the lithe, diminutive form, in an attempt to comfort the distressed boy. I cannot see Yugi's face for a moment, before he tilts his head. I can just see his amethyst eyes, overly bright from crying. Emotion is rampant, displayed in all ways possible.

"How… did he die?" Yugi asks brokenly, closing his eyes tightly in a feeble attempt to stop another tear from falling. Of course, this did not work. A crystalline tear slowly creeps down his cheek, and I release a small sob again myself.

I pause for a moment, then decide to tell him a minor section of the truth. Or, at least, what I told Nihongo.

"I… was heading to the grocery store… then I turned the corner… and I saw… his body… lying there, already dead…" I finally manage, choking slightly on my own breath.

Yugi groans and buries his head in Yami's chest, unable to face the world. Although I cannot hear quite what he is saying, I know Yami well enough to realise that Yugi should be hearing comforting words, through both speech and through their link. The Pharaoh, for one moment, eyes me with pity, before the icy, cruel look develops once more on his face.

"If you do not stop looking at us, I will kill you!" He screams. For a moment, I believe that he is yelling at me, until he whirls around and shoves a thirteen-year-old female, who I know to be Yume, directly into a nearby crowd of people. Seeing the weakness of the group, Yami barges through the slight gap in which he made, carrying Yugi bridal-style away from the mess. He gestures for me to follow, and I do so, gladly.

"I appreciate you informing us both of this, Ryou," He says quietly, when we are all safely away from the Old Hall, and directing ourselves towards the school exit. "I don't think Yugi could bear it if he stayed in school, or if he had to hear what had been said once more. In a strange way, I have to hate you and thank you for telling us."

I nod, feeling my eyes blur slightly before another tear falls from my hazel eyes. "I understand. It's bittersweet, but, if I hadn't of told you, and you'd been told by the school, you would have killed me. I can guess that you could figure out why I was searching for Shizuka… I am sorry also that I had to bring that up." I apologise, sighing. Everything is just so wrong with me.

I cannot even form a friend without him dying. And, the strange thing is that I am not even sure if he was my friend or not in this weird, backward place! And, as I am still clueless as to where I am, it just adds to the confusion in which now has become a part of my life!

Huh… I've been here less than a day and I dare to call it a life. Fuck… but so many things have happened! I've seen my father, Bandit Keith, Jou, a beggar being killed by Jou, Isis, Malik and Marik, Yugi, Yami, Honda, my old school, Jou being killed… bloody hell, who will I see next? Bakura?!

That is highly doubtful. Ra teases, appearing once more in my mind.Oh, isn't it convenient how every time I am on the borderline of what's fucked up and everything's all right that these two appear… holding hands.

NANI?! HOLDING… HANDS?!? OSIRIS AND RA… HOLDING… HANDS??! HOLY FUCKING SHIT!! Not in even my wildest of dreams could I foresee this twist! Then again, nor would I wish to.

Um… how did they say to contact them again? Oh yeah, concentrate… on… oh, fuck it, both of them!

Is there something I need to know here? I ask, amused, as their brains finally click. They separate, yet it is too late. I already know.

Osiris… I thought that you had a wife… naughty God.

Osiris' orbs seem to widen slightly, and his head lowers. Not really. He said with a sigh, raising his head to meet my own eye level. She fucked Hathor, the Goddess of love, happiness and music a long time ago. We are separated.

What amazes me, I continue, smirking ever so slightly in my actual body, Yami still having no response towards my apology, Is that Gods can actually swear. I figured you were too holy and divine to do that kind of thing.

You could say the same about adultery, Ra added, breaking into the silence, Yet I feel that I should get back to our main objective. Leave Yami and Yugi in about five minutes. Say that you must mourn yourself, or suchlike. Then… hurry back to your home. We shall be waiting there. He concludes, before both holy peoples fade out of my mind's eye.

I am left with a large smirk.

Bakura

I can now move without feeling so haunted and… possessed. After being sick, due to my bulimic state that is still so tempting, my stomach has developed cramps and I continue to get sudden bursts of trembling and illness. It is vile, being this way. Yet I must be so… especially for my chibi ichi, Ryou.

Not even a smile. Often at his name bearing a mention, my mood lightens, if just slightly. Yet it seems that my stomach has swallowed that one feeling of happiness in addition to any desire for refreshments. A sharp stab strikes me at irregular intervals, at my left side. Occasionally I ensure that I am bearing no dark mar on my tanned body, yet… this pain is so unendurable! I truly pity myself, something that I often have no intention of doing, or expressing freely. My skin feels as if it is being poked with the hottest rod of iron ever attainable from the Gods of Egypt.

A curtain of impenetrable metal now shields a half of my mind. What ever I should be concerned about, or what I should be feeling, has been blocked out. A borderline has been set between a section of my mind where the beautiful thoughts are fleeting and few. The angst and depression is finally killing me.

I close my eyes for a few moments. All that is noticeable in my world is pain. The loss of my hikari, and the one whose lips I managed to feel only once, and the kiss itself, is shattering my heart. Our one caress of lips against the other's is directing my mind down the pathway of insanity.

I open my eyes. Yet the scene before them is not of my Living Room, or of the Pharaoh. And neither is it of his light… but my own.

Ryou walks currently with a slight limp. His hair falls idly around his face, and weariness and grief shadow those beautiful eyes of his. Yet his two companions, Yami and Yugi, do not notice this. Hey, what the--? The Pharaoh is so fucking observant, and I know that for a fact! Why the hell wouldn't he note such a –

Ryou. Is. Injured. RYOU… IS INJURED! YOU BASTARD GOD!! YOU'VE FUCKING ALLOWED MY HIKARI TO BECOME A VICTIM TO PAIN!?! IT'S PAYBACK TIME WHEN I SEE YOU, BITCH!

Ryou

"Oh and, Ryou…" Yami says, before pausing and turning to face me. His crimson eyes bore into my own, as if searching for what cannot be hidden. He sighs and strokes a bang from Yugi's eyes in distraction, holding him close to his body.

"Tsuruoka wants a rewritten poem from you by tomorrow."

And, with that form of farewell, I find myself alone. Glancing back down the street, I see police milling around the enclosed area of where Jou vaguely lay. Several are near the gates, taking notes and observing each other's for likely errors. One female stands nearby, tears silently caressing down along her pale cheeks as she responds to each question in which the police ask her. I see Nihongo with those people. It seems that he is offering her a moment of rest, which she declines. She is quite pale… and I fear that shortly she shall faint.

I have no longer the strength to watch. Turning, I begin to walk away from the fateful scene, tears gathering involuntarily as my mind mockingly replays every swerve of Jou's blade against Shadow's… and then the penetration of flesh when he is stabbed.

Shadow… I still know not of whom he is. Granted, he could be female. Yet it is simpler this way, I deem.

"Jou…" I mutter, pressing into my side slightly, the short stabbing pains affecting me greatly now. I complain about these arcs of suffering much, yet it is very different when the flesh is your own. The whole concept of agonising aches can alter from as swiftly as you can blink.

I begin a light jog, wincing with every movement that my legs make. I abandon this idea, and start again at a steady pace.

Where the hell are you…? Osiris asks unsurely, whispering into my mind once more. I turn another corner, past the same crowd of smokers that I fled by earlier. One's eyes follow me until the street curves and they disappear from my sight.

All right… I am not far away. Naturally I respond to Osiris' wishes and tell him how close I am; yet he sighs impatiently.

Take your time then. We're not waiting for anything of importance. No, don't run on our account, young one! Spare yourself!

Even if I could run, I hiss back, highly aggravated at his lack of respect for my apparently very mortal and weak characteristics. I wouldn't. My stomach hurts so much… and I can't help but walk this slow. So, if you want me to die whilst getting to you, only to perish at your feet… then I will run. But just bear in mind that you'll need another hikari to poison and bribe so that someone can take my place in being an errand boy.

I feel his astonishment wash over me, and I am satisfied. His image enters my mind and, this time, I am glad that he is alone.

Well, well, well. It seems that Bakura has given you some backbone.

Iie. Just the experiences that you've put me through so far. I answer harshly, avoiding the alleyway in which I feel lurks a rather nasty presence. Another two blocks and I'm at my shitty house.

Osiris' image quirks an eyebrow, but allows the sentence to pass. I see a flickering colour in his eyes, and I realise too late that it is of his original colour. Now his orbs remain the same swirling mists of darkness, devoid of emotion.

We will be waiting… He whispers, before exiting my mind. Blinking to end the concentration link, I become more attentive to what I am heading towards.

Fuck. I got it wrong… less than three metres away is my new house.

Bakura

"-Kura?"

"NANI?!" I say aloud, blinking furiously. Yugi is staring into my eyes, much like his darkness does. Speaking of the arrogant fucker… where is…?

Okay, so I got things wrong. They'd better get used to a few wrong things, especially if it's me doing these assignments.

What sort of assignments? What are you doing to my hikari, you bastard?! Have you forced him into prostitution, or worse? Ra, I fucking swear, God or not, if you've caused my Ryou pain, then I'm gonna—

I hear a sigh enter my mind, and I hesitate. Another opportunity to hear Ryou's melodious, gently lilting voice… cannot be pushed aside so easily.

I wish Bakura was here…

At that I pause, and a small smile reaches my often humourless lips. He still thinks about… me. Bakura, King of Thieves. The one who loves him so…

I wish I could have another kiss…

My heart melts. He liked my kiss. Well, when I get him back, he'd better get used to a few more of them, with extra tongue. And, if he so desires… lovemaking.

With these and further hentai ideas running through my mind, I deepen my interest in 'God's Ancient Tragic and Noble Past.' I have forgotten about little Yugi… for now.

Ryou

He would never have killed him. Why… he wouldn't dare. Not him… he would never want to hurt Jou.

Then again, this is referring to my experiences in where I used to call my home. This particular assignment… will be the most difficult so far. Of course, accepting it was not an option. I had to take it, and by doing so fell into a pit of panic and even more fear for the other, unharmed half of my body.

Not only that, but my heart, also will be shattered again. With this particular duty… I will have little time for anything.

Flashback

Your assignment, Ra says, his deep voice echoing most annoyingly off the walls of my room, Is connected to Jou's death – or, Defenceless, as you cared enough to name him.

To put it precisely, Osiris continues, heeding Ra's lustful stares, You must find Seto Kaiba, and ask him several questions. More importantly… find out if he killed Jou.

"Shouldn't you already know who murdered him?" I ask expressionlessly. "You're the Gods."

It is true that we are supposed to control everything, Osiris sighs, leaning on a nearby wall, fingering the faded blanket that I tossed to one side earlier, Yet this… was not planned.

I shoot them a deathly look. "So you expect me to find out something that not even you know about, and even want me to do this without getting myself killed when someone clicks in that I am onto them?"

Ra nods. Precisely.

End Flashback

I am now standing within Kaiba's office buildings, just opposite Kaiba Land. Or, what's left of it. Several wisps of cigarette smoke signal to me that I am being watched, very intensely. The flames from another's lighter illuminate both their eyes, revealing a woman's face. Or, a teenager's. I cannot tell… she wears a lot of make-up. Something that I cannot stand. With a shudder, I press past the irritated security guards and enter the elevator.

As I am reaching the top floor, where I was once told his main office resides, I reflect momentarily. Slipping into an almost dreamlike state, my eyes drifting to a close, I remember what I did to find myself in this situation.

Bakura

My stomach cramps have subsided, in replacement of a throbbing headache. I pause from reading to shake my head.

Urgh… big mistake. I close my eyes, resting my head against my hand… and see something that I have dreaded knowing for one day.

Flashback

I drag the cold object of my ultimate demise, and wishes, along my warm, previously unmarred expanse of my wrist, feeling its jagged teeth biting into my sensitive flesh. Always has my skin been easy to break… so, when put under a knife… it should have no problems in being sliced open.

A light sting is caused by my first complete slit: nothing more. I am dissatisfied… at the level of pain in which I am experiencing. To die, I wish to experience pain. I crave it, and I'll fucking get it! Oh, wait… a droplet of blood has risen to the height of the blade against my skin, and now runs along its silky length. It seems that I have more strength than what I have previously given myself credit for.

My mouth opens and, before I can control myself, I emit a haunting, piercing laugh, delighted that I have finally seen what will come out of my body… and will no longer keep my alive in my pitiful existence.

I raise the blade, removing it from within my bleeding wound to examine the blood amount. With a smirk, my tongue flicks out and gently licks at the blood there. The steel is warm now, this causing less of a biting sting when I replace it. Urgh… blood. So bitter and… salty. Fortunately… I shall not have to endure seeing this putrid liquid again. I despise it… the lone thing that is sustaining me, and I lick it?! Fuck, I am ridiculous.

My body trembles for a moment. I place the knife back into my blood, and resume slitting my wrist. I press down with each fresh slice with all of my broken dreams pouring into the blade as it moves through my aching gash. Like Yugi's Grandpa always says… you must put a part of yourself into something you love to achieve it.

FUCK! I've struck a nerve… and it hurts… so much. I pause for a moment, allowing the throbbing ache to spread to other parts of my body, like my heart. I continue. I feel my veins snap with the fresh bite of my knife, and am finally feeling content. The heavy weights in my stomach are seemingly unwinding themselves from their coils, and taking flight.

With my shirt completely disposed of, I begin to form another deep, throbbing gash, across my chest. The beginning stings do not faze me, this merely encouraging me to press down harder. I lean back and, with a victorious groan, feel the blood trickle down my chest, below even the waistband of my trousers…

Bakura

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" I scream, knocking over my chair as I race upstairs, to the confines of the bathroom. I lock the door, and collapse. I shake from what I have just seen… blood… so much angst…

I put my head in my hands, my knees rising up to my chest. Without warning, I begin to keen, sobbing as loudly as I want to.

Ryou

I reopen my eyes. The elevator doors have just slid open. I step out and approach the beady-eyed receptionist.

"I… am here to discuss something very important and strictly confidential with Kaiba-sama. I am strictly forbidden to inform anyone of what we shall be doing."

She gestures to the door, before turning back to her magazine. Wow… a female in the Kaiba Corp building. I push open the door in front of me… and find myself staring into the ice-cold, sulking eyes of Seto Kaiba. I see hardly any differences than the Seto I used to know; yet a dark, crimson red streak shoots through the hazelnut colour of his hair.

"What do you want, runt?" He snarls, slamming the door shut behind me. I stare into his eyes, absorbing the rage within. He always used to call me by my last name… therefore; he does not know me. Should I be gladdened by this news, or saddened?

I clear my throat. "I am here to tell you… about Katsuya Jonouchi's life… he's…"

Seto's eyes widen: it seems this means something to him. Could this mean that it… was… he who killed Jou? Or… am I hallucinating?

"What's happened to him?" He says, attempting to be calm, yet failing when I hear the tremble in his voice, fails when I note the slight tension in his shoulders, fails when I see his hands clench into fists at his sides.

I swallow. I lean against the nearby wall for support.

"Jou has been murdered."

Seto's whole body trembles in shock. Hs eyes brighten slightly, and his face turns away from me, to look out of the window. I see his reflection, and also his tears. They fall down his pale cheeks swiftly, many following after the first. He bangs his fists abruptly against the glass, and it shakes slightly. I slowly approach him, and dare to lay a hand on his shoulder, reaching up.

I feel him shaking beneath my hands. His head rests against the presumably cool material, his mouth occasionally emitting a quiet sob.

"You… y-you know the worse part…?" I say nothing, but close my own eyes. I see his broken body beneath my lids, and hear once more his last few words to me. I shake my head in a no, which he notices. He pushes himself away from the glass, and turns to face my head on.

"The worse… thing is… that we were in l-love…" He chokes, running a hand through his usually well kept hair. The habit reminds me so much of Bakura, and I pause for a moment. Seto loved Jou, and probably still does – love does not simply stop when a beloved dies.

I breathe deeply. "I know… Seto… my name is Ryou… and I can help you through this time… just trust me…" I whisper brokenly, stammering on several words.

Seto does not reply. He stares one more time out of the window, before sighing heavily. More tears begin to form in his eyes.

"You said murder… who…?"

I shrug, an unenthusiastic response. "I don't know. I… am determined to find out who, however… and…"

I cannot finish. I stare into his eyes and see a mirror of Bakura: depressed and all alone, having just lost the one he loves. He and Bakura… are so alike in this world.

Bakura…

I sigh. I reflect again on how I got this way… and feel like hurling myself out of the window, shattering it so that I can fall and die when my body strike the concrete below.

Yet, with a twinge of sorrow, I realise that this is… unattainable. I am already dead, and a slave to Ra and Osiris' wills. Whilst they love each other, they delight in seeing me weep over my own loss of Bakura… the loss that I caused. They mock me because I cannot have him back, until I solve the mystery of where I am… and how to exit it.

Yes… that is what I must do. I must… develop my skills whilst here, and from that, discover what dark secrets lurk in every dingy alleyway… and why people are being killed.

It is said that one cannot help who they fall in love with: and I should know. Yugi and Yami had at first… been hated. Gradually they were accepted into society, whereas Seto and Jou were received normally, possibly because of Seto's point in authority. I wonder… if someone else thinks here that homosexuality is fucking appalling… if that was what motivated them to kill Katsuya Jonouchi.

But whatever the reasons, I am going to find them. Starting at Kaiba Corp.

Yami's koi: well. Eleven pages, how's that for ya? I know, not very angsty, even with the emotional flashback of Ryou when he was slitting his wrists. Still… I think I like it. I think… but I dunno what I can have Bakura doing! Mean, reading and reading for every chapter and having him bitch about how depressed he is will not get anymore reviewers, right?

Neutral Man: that's cause you're gay.

Seto: YOU KILLED JOU!! DIE, BASTARD!! Chases him

Yami's koi: um… would now be a good time to ask very nicely for fan art? Would any of you please send me a link on a review with some art to go with this story, or any other? If you do, I'll mail you personally and thank you. I know it's not much… On a different note now. I'd like to thank all of you people reading this, and I'm gonna wish you all a very merry Christmas and brilliant 2005!

Ryou: you get a plushie of me for reviewing, and a plushie of who ever you want for Christmas!

Yami's koi: Yay! Well… Luvvies! SEE YA!