AN: Thank you for reading, this is chapter two...it gets better as you read, really.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I'm just a fan with no life (who should be doing her homework) bows Yoroshiku

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A few blocks later, Bakura could see the local hospital coming into view. He had long since stopped running, seeing as how his blind and panicked attempt to run had almost caused him to drop Ryou. Nontheless, he was still very worried. Although it wasn't easy to see or to admit, he really did care for Ryou. Ryou was like the little brother that he'd never had. At least Ryou seemed to be alright. He could feel Ryou's soft breath on the side of his neck. It made him both sigh in relief and shudder in a silent fear that didn't often leave Bakura's subconscious.

He had been carrying Ryou piggy-back style, but now at the entrance to the hospital, he switched him over to the front, positioning one arm under Ryou's knees, and the other cradling his head. But Bakura was thatnkful when without a question, the receptionist had called the doctor, and Bakura had set Ryou down on a bed in the room Ryou was assigned to for, truth be told, Ryou didn't weigh as little as his appearance would lead one to believe.

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After about an hour of waiting (in the waiting room, of course) Bakura found himself falling asleep.

"Bakura-san. Bakura-san. Please report to reception area three." the monotone voice said from the speaker, waking Bakura from his slumber. He had slept for an hour, he realized, but then, remembering Ryou's condition, got up and headed to the formentioned reception area.

"Are you Bakura-san?" The doctor that had been previously attending Ryou asked.

"Yeah, that's me, is Ryou going to...?"

"Ryou is recovering. I think he's awake now, so you can go on in and see him. But, Bakura-san, I was informed that what got Ryou here was an assault from some delincuents. That is a valid story, but I must say, Ryou shows many physical as wella s seemingly emotional marks, that I can only think this is not the first time that this has happened, do you know why he may show these signs? If these people have hurt him before, they should be arrested...or is it something else?"

Guilt stirred deep within Bakura, but he quickly shoved the feeling away. Most of those scars Ryou had were from his beatings, not Ushio's 'assaults'.

"Yes sir. This is...not the first time. Ryou's often a target to bullies, and this has happened bofore."

"I see. Well, you can go on in, but be careful; Ryou is still weak and the slightest accident could cause serious damage to him. Physically, as well as emotionally or mentally. It's room sixteen, right down the hall."

"Hai, Thank you." He bowed slightly and proceeded down the hall. He was so stricken at the doctor's suspicion that he didn't even take the time to give him a glare for his subtle accusation.

Stopping at room 16, Bakura opened the door shakily. 'Why do I feel so nervous anyway? I'm not even the one who got him here.'

Inside, Ryou heard the door open, and saw his yami walk in. He flinched, involuntarily, then regarded his yami with a small "Hello".

Bakura spoke, "So...how are you...feeling?"

"Better. Thanks to you. I'm sorry for..for being so weak. I'm nothing but a b-bother to you, I know, but please try to be patient with me."

"D-don't apologize. It's not your fault those thugs beat you up. I assure you that they will be punished."

Silence crept upon them, so think that yo could almost see it. Bakura swallowed hard. He was trying to be very lenient with Ryou, but he was finding it hard to control the anger welling up inside of him. Anger toward Ushio, for having the nerve to lay a finger on his hikari; Anger at himself for not being there, but also anger at himself for caring so much. Caring just made things all that much more difficult. All of this transferred to the anger that he felt towards Ryou. The pebbles were piling up, and soon, one would know the pile over, snap the rope, and he would lose control.

"W-why, Yami?" Ryou finally spoke, killing the silence. "Why did you help me? Why did you go through all the trouble, all the worry, just to save me? I'm worthless to you----I've never done anything to you except to slow you down, hold you back. Why Yami,...Why?"

The yami considered this for a moment, anger welling up inside of him at a pace too fast to control. The only thing he hated more than fright was doubt. He hated it when Ryou doubted himself, but for Ryou to question him; to make him doubt himself? That was unforgivable. He was doubting his actions, his motives, his way of being, and doubting himself made him weak, and he would not stand for that. This was all his hikari's fault, for it was Ryou that questioned him, Ryou who made him doubt, and Ryou who he'd been worried for in the first place. In his head he remembered the doctor's words: "...but be careful, Ryou is still weak, and the slightest accident could cause serious damage to him." The doctor had called Ryou weak. 'How funny' Bakura mused, his usual taunting self temporarily restored. Yes...Ryou was very vulnerable right now.

The pile of pebbles toppled over, and the rope snapped: "Do not question my motives or my actions!" With a side-smirk, he sharply backhanded Ryou's cheek, drawing blood from a fresh cut in his mouth. Caught off guard and in his weakened state, Ryou's head flew backwards hard.

'Look at him,' a taunting voive in Bakura's head said. 'Look at him; attatched to those machines in order to make sure he's safe. One even takes his pulse; that insessant beeping; pathetic. Pathetic and weak. How disgusting.'

Backhanding him once more, this time harder, drawing more blood from Ryou's nose and mouth, Bakura was not expecting what happened next.

Weakened, Ryou's head flew back once more, and this time his head hit the metal contraption next to his bed. Severly. He fell unconcious instantly, vaguely aware of a pain in his head and heart fading. (AN: Yeah, yeah, I'm a sap. I really can't help it.)

Bakura watched in horror as, still bleeding, Ryou fell unconcious, his head falling limply to his bed. Control temporarily regained, Bakura noticed that the machine that had been keeping Ryou's pulse's beeping had slowed dramatically and grown much fainter. He was still alive though. Panicking, Bakura rushed out of the room to call the doctor. The doctor spotted him.

"Bakura-san! Bakura-san, what's wrong? You look pale.."

"It's Ryou; he..uhh..he tried to get out of bed and fell and hit himself. I put him back on the bed, but he's bleeding, and fainted." A natural at lying, Bakura was taken by surprise at his own hesitation, but nontheless seemed to have convinced the doctor of his story.

"Don't worry Bakura-san, go back to the waiting room. I'll do what I can for Ryou. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"No! I--I have to see Ryou! Are you...are you...?" He trailed off. Embarassed at his own outburst of emotion, he left back to the waiting room without another word. Luckily, no one would think any less of him, since the would think he was in hysterics or something, obviously because of Ryou's state. 'Since when do I care what those fools think of me?' This question, however, he knew was inaccurate because he knew someone, who he knew he cared of their opinion; Ryou. He may not admit it, but it was true. That's part of the reason why he bothered to make Ryou fear him. So that Ryou would think he was strong and never try to betray him. And it worked too. The only tim eRyou had ever really betrayed him had been the night at Duelist Kingdom, and he had learned his lesson for that.

Realizing that he was still standing he sat down in one of the chairs of the waiting room. He had been there for hours, and was beginning to fall asleep again. After what seemed like forever and a half, the doctor finally came.

"Ryou is stabilized again. I don't think he's awake, but you can go on in if you want to; but please, it is of the utmost importance that no big disruptions are caused to him."

"Yes doctor." A bit more relieved to know that Ryou was ok, Bakura headed once more to the room Ryou resided in. He walked into the room to find a sleeping Ryou. He looked like an angel with his white hair and paler-than-usual skin, and looked like he was really at peace. Pulling up a nearby chair next to the bed, he sat down, wondering where things would go from there. He nudged Ryou gently, to see if he would wake up, but the innocent one kept to his slumber. 'At least he's warm , that's a good sign.' He nudged Ryou once more, before finally getting up. 'I'll go get some coffee, then I'll come right back.' He put his hand on the doorknob, feeling the cool metal contrast the warmth Ryou's skin had had to it, and instinctively felt down to the leather strap that held the Millenium Ring. Before he could open the door he heard a small moan behind him and turned around to find his hikari was waking up. Eyes fluttered open to reveal two large chocolate eyes, as Ryou Bakura woke from his peaceful slumber.

"Ryou!" pride swallowed for the umteenth time, Bakura ran over to Ryou with relief written all over his face. A harshness seemed to strike the room as Ryou's eyes turned just a glimpse colder, and a bit confused.

"R----Ryou? That's my name, I mean, ...that's me, right? Where am I? What happened? I...I can't remember a thing. Why can't I remember?" he shook Bakura gently to catch his attention, for it seemed the yami had zones out momentarily.

It had to be some sort of joke, or revenge for earlier, thought Bakura. But he knew that Ryou would never do something like this. A conflict of emotions struck Bakura like a brick wall. He wanted to hug Ryou, who was so close and so far away from him, but he wanted to hit him again too, for having forgotten everything. He wanted things to go back to how they were only yesterday, but at the same time he wanted things to be different, so maybe he could start treating Ryou like he had imagined a little brother should be treated. But then he remembered how much pain he had already cause Ryou; how much Ryou had already suffered because of him. That's it. He would make the biggest sacrifice that he could think of, so that maybe Ryou could start over, without him there to make the poor boy suffer. After all, his friends would be there to help Ryou be happy and to protect him; and although Ryou would never know it, he would be there too, in the ring, watching over him.

It was now or never. He realized Ryou was shaking him gently, seemingly to snap him out of this trance he had gone into. Even now, that Ryou had just lost all of his memory, he was worrying about Bakura.

"Ummm...who---who are you? Y--you look just like me but, are you alright? Are we related? Look, I'm sorry I don't remember what happened...could you please tell me what's wrong. I'm sure we'll work through whatever is wrong. Could you tell me your name, maybe it'll help me remember something so that I can help you? Please...say something to me, anything..."

"Shhhh..don't worry Ryou. This is all just a dream I'm not really here. You're only dreaming. However, you must listen closely to what I say and promise me..." he felt as though he were choking...would Ryou really believe this? would it be ok? "promise me you'll do what I tell you. It'll help you to remember."

"Ok I promise, but please, tell me what's wrong and how can all of this be only a dream? It feels real." The current situation was tearing Bakura apart, but he quickly hid it.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Listen, I'm not real, this--all of this is just a dream. All you need to worry about it what I'm going to tell you. You're going to wake up in a horpital room , just like this one, and you still won't have your memory back. A few moments shortly after you wake up, your friends will be here; they uhh...well they stand out, so you'll know when they get here. They will take you home and help you remember until you eventually remember everything you've left behind. Your friends are the ones who brough you here. You were beat up by some heartless jerks, but you shouldn't worry about them. Now here's the important part; don't think about me, I don't exist, and I never will. But most importantly, take this."

He removed the ring form around his neck, and gently placed it over Ryou's head. "Take this pendant, and keep it with you foreve. Never take it off unless you absolutely need to; and even then make sure to keep it in sight; trust no one with it. Never, Ok? It's ... a large link to your past. It was a gift from your father, and it's very, very important that you keep it forever, ok?"

"Well, alright, I promise. I'll keep it forever. But if this is a dream, then what's the big rush? You look like you're in a hurry to leave." Ryou looked extremely calm for his state, as opposed to Bakura who was getting more agitated by the second. He felt a knot in his stomach. He was practically giving up his freedom, his new life, his hikari. But he owed Ryou his life, he just did. He'd never bothered to get close to Ryou, and the violence and beatings always put a barrier between them, but this--this was goodbye; forever, for never. Ryou would never suffer because of him again, and all of his obsessions would go away as time would pass in the ring. And he knew, in his heart, that he'd never forget Ryou either; and that from the ring he would protect him even though Ryou would no longer know of Bakura's existence. Finally Bakura answered:

"I know that, in dreams, usually there's no big hurry, but this one is an exception, ok? Now listen, it's time for you to wake up. Close your eyes, lie down, and count to ten; I'm just a part of this dream, so when you wake up I'll be gone."

"Alright. So you're like---a guardian angel, aren't you?"

Bakura laughed, an ironic but light-hearted laugh before realizing that he had been crying. 'Ra, how long has it been since I've cried? How long since real tears ran down my face, cold like these?'

"Me? An angel? Well if that's what you'd like to call me, but come on, it's time for you to wake up."

"Ok, but just one more question, alright? Please?" Bakura smiled at the child-like curiosity and acknowledged the question. Ryou smiled, innocent eyes closing in delight. "Will I ever see you again? I mean, could you maybe visit me again, in some other dream or somehting?"

"Sure. Don't worry I'll see you again, after all, what are guardian angels for? Now then, do what I said so you can wake up now." Suprising both Ryou and himself, he leaned down and hugged Ryou briefly, taking a moment to feel his hikari's spirit next to his own, something impossible if Ryou knew his past.

Ryou closed his eyes, whispering a quick "Goodbye" to Bakura before lying down from the sitting position he had been in. As Ryou began to count, Bakura hurriedly but quietly left the room with his usual stealth; before heading to his soul room for practically the rest of eternity, he had to call the pharaoh to explain the situation to him so that he could tell the rest of Ryou's friends and they could come to pick Ryou up. As he reached a payphone, he put some yen in the slot and quickly dialed the Kame Game shop's number. 'C'mon, answer the phone...'

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AN: Again, I'll read any suggestions. Please do not flame, if you don't like it be kind to me. Open to pairing suggestions as well...I like where this story is going.