Weiße Weihnacht
Part 1—Searching for you
by YYY

Ryou walks into a bookstore and heads to the puzzle and games section. As he looks through all the books, he sees one that catches his eyes so he reaches out to grab it. Someone reaches for the book at the same time.

"Ryou!" Yugi calls. Yugi is the one who tries to grab the book.

"Hello, Yugi." Ryou smiles.

"Sorry, I was so busy looking at the books I didn't see you. Here, there is more than one book. We can each get one." Yugi smiles.

"But I'm getting one for you." Ryou says.

"For me?"

"Yeah. It's a present. I'm doing X'mas shopping."

"You don't have to get me anything!"

"But I want to. Hey, you like to go shopping with me? I don't know what to get for Joey. Since you're his best friend you can help me pick a present for him."

"Why don't we go and have lunch at his work place. Seeing you will be the greatest present!"

"Are you sure it's a good idea? I don't want to bother him while he is working."

"Joey doesn't mind. I go there all the time. Yami is going to meet me there too! Come on! Joey makes the best X'mas cookies."

Ryou follows Yugi to a coffee shop. Yami is already there waiting for him. Yugi walks up to Yami and gives Yami a quick kiss on the cheek. "Hello, Yami! Sorry I'm late." Yugi smiles.

"Ryou! Yugi!" Joey runs up to his two friends and hug them both.

"Joey, can we have some of your cookies?" Yugi asks.

"Sure thing! I'll go get it." Joey says.

"Let me go help Joey." Yugi says.

"You stay with Yami. I'll go help Joey." Ryou says.

Ryou walks up to the counter and sees Joey making two cups of hot chocolate. "The cookies are in the oven. It's gonna be ready real soon." Joey says.

"You get the cookies. I'll get the hot chocolate back to the table." Ryou smiles.

"Hey, Bakura is here!" Joey says. Ryou looks up and sees Yugi waving at Bakura. Bakura sees Yugi and walks toward Yugi's table.

"I guess Bakura is joining us. Can you bring a cup of coffee for him, too?" Joey asks Ryou.

"Sure." Ryou says as he looks at Bakura. Bakura looks back at him.

Ryou's heart starts beating. Ever since the first day Ryou saw Bakura, Ryou fell in love with Bakura; and it makes Ryou nervous when he sees Bakura. Ryou is so nervous right now, he can't even pour the coffee

"Ryou, are you okay? Your hand is shaking. Here, let me do it." Joey says. The blonde takes the coffee pot from Ryou and pours it.

After Joey pours the coffee, Ryou takes the coffee and the hot chocolate back to the table. As he walks closer and closer to Bakura, he becomes more and more nervous. He gets so nervous he trips on the carpet on the floor.

Bakura catches Ryou before Ryou falls. "Watch where you're going, silly boy." Bakura says to Ryou.

"Thanks for catching me." Ryou says as he mentally kick himself. He hates acting like a silly fool and in front of Bakura.

"Bakura is here to have lunch so I ask him to join us. We can all try the Joey's X'mas cookies together!" Yugi says.

"Hey, Bakura. How is your arm doing?" Joey asks as he brings the cookies to the table. Bakura wounded his right arm a week ago.

"The doctor says it'll heal soon." Bakura says as he takes a sip of the coffee.

"Still looking for that person?" Joey asks.

"Yeah." Bakura says.

"Who are you looking for?" Yami asks.

"The person who saved me the night I wounded my arm. I had an argument with a bunch of thugs. They chased me all the way up to the lake and beat me half dead. After that, they threw me into the lake with half frozen water. I almost died. But then, someone swims down to me and grabbed me out of the water. That person took me to the house by the lake, warm me up and takes care of my wound. When the paramedic arrives at the house to get me, that person is already gone." Bakura says, "the paramedic said it's lucky someone saved me. There is no way I could have survived until they arrived. I want to find the person who save me and thanks that person, but no matter how hard I search I can't find anything."

"We'll help you find that person!" Yugi offers.

Bakura shakes his head, "I searched the whole lakeside and I asked everyone around. Nothing turns up. I don't think there is anywhere else you can do."

"There is always something we can do." Yami says to Bakura.

"You guys don't have to worry about me. I'm going to be fine." Bakura says. But everyone at the table can tell Bakura isn't fine. Bakura looks like he is going crazy if he can't find the one who saved his life.

Bakura can tell he is making everyone worry. He stands up and says, "I'm going to head home and take some rest. The doctor says I shouldn't be moving around."

"Bakura, if you ever need to talk…" Yami says.

"...I can call you guys. I know. Thanks for listening to my renting." Bakura says before he leaves.

TBC…