IT'S FINISHED!

Heh! The story! I've finished it! YAY! The first half is complete! 23 chapters baby! Woohoo! On to the sequel...(collapses)

All righty, I'm posting this chappie early as a celebration of this SPECIAL occasion.

On to the Reviewers!

blackalbino: Yay! I'm a tease! Bakura's my favorite character too! Little demonic yami that he is...(squeals) Anyway, I'm glad you found it and pleasepleaseplease review again! I'm getting all these new readers who review one chapter then stop. It's annoying the hell out of me. Love ya!

Freak in the Shadows: No, I love YOU more.

Satra: STOP SAYING YOUR ENGLISH SUCKS! - - It does not suck. Stop making me feel stupid and inferior. (crawls under a rock) You mean bilingual people...if you don't stop dissing yourself I shall kill off Yami. Hehe! (grins wickedly) Anyhoo, where was I? That was your favorite chappie yet? It's one of mine as well...Marik and Yami getting along? Welllllll...they are for the moment, let's put it that way...(smiles) Anyhoo, review again dearie!

T. Lei: haha! I love the rhyme thingie! LOVE IT! My siblings found it very humorous too. Just as you asked, I'm posting soon...(Grins happily) Please review again! (hugs)

dragonlady222: I struggled with the interactions between Yami and Marik. It was haaard. I've gotten better at it though. The toughest scenes are when they're alone, which is a lot of this chappie. - -; Yugi and Yami are kinda understanding Marik and Ryou. Honda's gonna get a turn now...a very rude awakening. (grins evilly) This is a chappie where my sister says Honda's mean. I disagree. He's protective. Maybe that's just my views though...now look what I've done: I'm blabbering. My apologies. The shower scene: (squeals) I LOVE the shower scene. It's one of my favorites in the whole story. Bakura not get sick? heh, fat chance. Review again, dear! (kowtows)

Silver Mirror: I'm glad you liked your chappie. (smiles happily) It's one of my favorites, which I can say because I've written them all. Did I mention I'm DONE? (shrieks for joy while bouncing around the kitchen) Oop...scared my rat. poor baby!...sorry, where was I?...The scene between the Mutous and Marik was intense to say the least. I'd had a bad day so I was like: "Hell this is gonna be a damn dramatic argument!"...yeah --; So anyhoo, you like Jou and Bakura? (grins) Don't worry dearie, there's plenty more of that. Review again! Love ya!

Bluegrass Elf: Thanks for the compliments. LOTR's was one of my first major addictions as well...well...Yugioh came first but you know how that all works. Who knows? (sighs wistfully) Maybe I'll make a LOTR's fic...someday...Review again! (hugs) Namarie!

Don't think I'm done now peoples. I've decided to become more devious than before. (yes, it's possible) I wandered through my account today and happened to glance at the alerts and favorites for this story...(grins evilly) Some of you haven't reviewed...much to my utter dismay. But I think I've figured out why! You've all forgotten where the review thingie is! (crickets chirp) Just go to either the top or bottom of your screens and hit the purple review thingiemabobber. (smiles happily) I feel that if the story's on any list you might wanna at least tell me you're enjoying it... ;...or not enjoying it, but then I'm confused why it'd be on your favorites list...

Favs:

Hanyou of Fire: Your name sounds fimiliar...

Inu-Chan-000: (waits patiently)

Blue Bunny 2: since chappie 8 (sobs)

Manic-demon: since chappie 1. Honey, where are you?

Alerts:

DreamingChild: (looks adoringly at) Pwease review?

Ryou VeRua (awesome name, by the way)

Yami Misao: (didn't you review on Cry of the Wicked? I think so! )

(cackles insanely) Ooh I have invaded your privacy and singled you all out! Mwahahaha!...seriously though, I reallyreallyreallyreallyreally wanna hear from you peoples. I'm not mad...SAD! (lower lip trembles)...all right, I'm done torturing you all. (pouts) Maybe I just won't update till I hear from you all...(smiles cheerfully)

The title of this chapter doesn't just include Bakura and Jou. Other characters discover things about each other as well. Just a heads up on that…(smiles)

You

Give me a sign

To convince me you're there.

Don't leave me to suffer

More than I can bear.

Prove to me you're real,

I'm tired of the lies.

Please shut their mouths

And open my eyes.

Chapter 13: Getting Acquainted

Jou came into the bathroom with an armload of warm clothes. He smiled at Bakura who was dozing on the floor of the shower which was still running.

"Oye Bakura!" Jou turned off the water, earning a glare from the thief.

Jou went to the bathroom closet and pulled out some towels, placing them across the floor.

"Here." He held out the thick, fuzzy towel.

Bakura slowly reached out and took it. He stood shakily to his feet, water dripping all over.

"Put these on," Jou said holding out some of his own clothes.

Bakura looked dubiously at them. Sighing, Jou placed the clothing on the floor and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"It just keeps going on and on," Yami mumbled as he searched through a pile of scrolls back at the museum.

"Keep looking," Marik replied as he shuffled through the drawer of a file cabinet.

"Marik?"

"Hmm?" the boy replied absentmindedly.

"What's Bakura like?"

The blond stopped, startled by the question. "What?"

Yami looked away, uncomfortable. "You and Ryou…well…it's obvious you both really care about him….I was just wondering what he's like."

Marik didn't know what to say. The pharaoh seemed to be sincere. Was he trying to find out about Bakura's past or did he actually care?

"You've known him longer than I have, Pharaoh."

Yami shook his head. "It's a cover; I can tell."

Marik looked away sadly. "He…doesn't open up to people. Even so, I'd rather have him as a friend before anyone else."

"If it's not too personal a question: why?" Yami asked tentatively.

Marik smiled fondly. "He's distant, yet always there for me. He doesn't abandon me when times get rough…Extremely protective, as you found out," he said, referring to the fight that had brought about the present situation.

Yami turned away, continuing his search in silence. Marik watched the monarch for a while.

'How do I feel about him now?...I'm still angry….but he wasn't trying to hurt Kura. I wonder if Yami was like this in the past…' Marik shook his head, gold earrings gently hitting the sides of his face. 'Focus. My mind's wandering to an unknown past of the pharaoh….and that's not going to benefit anyone.'

Marik sighed heavily, turning away from Yami. There was nothing more to say.

"Hope he's not killin' himself in there," Jou muttered as he placed the ice pack he'd been holding gingerly against his swollen jaw back in the freezer.

He glanced about tiredly, starting slightly when his stomach growled.

"Dang it."

He began going through the cupboards, searching for something to satisfy his hunger. Mumbling to himself, he scrounged about, causing numerous objects to fall over.

"Dang it!"

He pulled out a can of soup, placing its contents into a pot and setting it to boil on the stove. He turned to sit down at the table only to find Bakura standing directly in front of him.

"Whoa! I didn't hear you come in!"

Bakura stared blankly. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a pair of baggy jeans. He looked very out of place, glancing about curiously. Jou noticed the knife was still grasped by the thief. He guessed, without a doubt, that the Millennium ring was being worn under the sweatshirt.

"Um…I'm making soup. Food." Jou made an eating motion.

Bakura glanced around him to the stove. The soup's aroma was becoming stronger. His stomach was aching. He hadn't had anything to eat since he'd awoken in this time.

Jou caught the tired look in the thief's eyes. Bakura looked miserable. 'Who knows how long he was outside.'

"Hey—sit down." He pointed to the chair.

Bakura visibly tensed at the sudden movement.

"Calm down, man! Sit down," he said more gently.

The tomb robber cautiously moved over to a chair and sank down onto it, brown eyes still studying the blond. Jou fidgeted under the stare uncomfortably.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop that."

Bakura's gaze didn't waver.

"Cut it out!"

'What the hells is wrong with him?' the tomb robber wondered amusingly.

"Arghhh!" Jou yelled in annoyance.

"Too bad that public phone's out of order," Honda said grasping his cup of coffee as he and Ryou sat out the storm in a little coffee shop at the other end of the city.

Ryou nodded, staring at his steaming up of tea.

"Hey, calm down. Worrying is not going to help."

Ryou sighed, taking a sip of his tea. "I know. I just don't want anyone else to get hurt.

Honda stared out the shop window. Rain was still pouring down in sheets. The sewers were flooding, streams of water rushing down the streets. His motorcycle was leaning right against the side of the building on the sidewalk.

"Ryou, why do you care about Bakura?" Honda asked before he could stop himself.

Ryou looked up in surprise. Honda instantly regretted the question.

"I'm sorry! That was completely…!" the brunette began to apologize.

"No, it's fine," Ryou cut in, holding up a hand.

"It's just…he doesn't respect you. He doesn't seem to care…" Honda stopped at the empty look in the hikari's eyes.

Ryou smiled despondently. "No, he doesn't really. He saved me in Battle City because he needed me. I was 'necessary'."

Honda growled, "Bastard."

Ryou looked up, eyes blazing. "You've no right to say that. He's the only one who stepped in to help me."

"We wanted to! The bastard referee was threatening to disqualify the others! Yami and Yugi had to win, otherwise Marik's yami would have…"

"And why didn't you help me? Or Otogi? Or Anzu? I don't believe any of you could be disqualified from a tournament that you weren't even participating in," Ryou replied icily.

"Ryou!" Honda cried, offended.

"The truth is that we're nice enough to each other, but when it comes down to it: we're not really friends."

"How can you say that?"

"When you all became aware of Bakura for the fist time in Duelist Kingdom I was willing to have my soul destroyed to save all of you; not because we were friends but because I was sick and tired of being forced to hurt people."

"But we've been through so much together!" Honda insisted.

"And where has it gotten us?"

"Not very far. You always seem to avoid us…"

"I didn't want to lose you too!" Ryou screamed, earning a glare from the shopkeeper behind the counter. "Not again..." the boy whispered, covering his face with his hand.

"Ryou?" Honda spoke tenderly, still shocked by the other's sudden outburst.

The boy took a shuddering breath. "Before I came to Domino I lived in Britain. I had close friends. My father wasn't home much, but they were all there for me." He cleared his throat. "They…"

"But if you were so close, why'd you leave?"

"They're gone, Honda."

The brunette's eyes widened. "Bakura?"

Ryou nodded, lower lip trembling. "A few of them just vanished. The others were found laying about, not responding to anyone." He saw the questioning look in the other boy's eyes. "He banished their souls, Honda," the hikari said softly.

The taller boy opened his mouth to speak.

"I know. You're wondering why I care about him. He's all I have left." Ryou leaned in. "I had no one else."

Honda closed his eyes. He couldn't begin to imagine what the boy had gone through.

"I…I'm sorry," he whispered.

Bakura and Jou sat awkwardly in the living room. Bakura was draped in an old blanket on the couch. Jou sat on the floor, trying to get the television picture clear.

"Damn it! Stupid storm!" he yelled banging on the device.

Bakura coughed, wheezing. He pulled the blanket tighter around his aching body. He'd already grown quite accustomed to the blond.

"Sick, eh?" Jou sighed, turning of the television. "Great."

They both jumped at the sound of the phone. Bakura tensed, looking about. Jou scrambled to his feet, running for the machine.

"Geez, I forgot all about dat!" he said while searching for it. "Hello?"

"Oh Jou, thank goodness!" Mr. Mutou's voice sighed. "Are you all right? Anzu said that…"

"Anzu's there? Phew! Dat's a relief!" Jou laughed, wincing as his jaw stung.

"What happened? Are you…"

Jou jolted as thunder boomed directly over the apartment. The room went dark.

"Geez! Dat was loud. So gramp…" he paused. The line was dead. "Damn it!"

"Aachooo!" came from the darkness.

"This is brilliant. Just brilliant!" Jou shouted throwing up his hands in exasperation.

Bakura tried to tune out the boy, aggravated. He swallowed, a lump in his throat. He hadn't been this sick since…well, he'd never been this sick. Scowling, he shivered.

"Well, at least we know she's all right," Jou sighed running a hand through his disheveled hair.

Bandages covered his arms. His eye was purple, swollen shut. He had two large bruises on is jaw.

"This sucks," Jou muttered. "Do you know any games?"

Bakura stared at him, eyes worn.

Jou sat back, bored. This was going to be so…Suddenly a light went on in his head. He quickly rushed out of the room.

The tomb robber sighed, glad for a moment of quiet. It didn't last long, however. Jou bounded back into the room with something in his hands.

"This should spark something," he grinned, holding up his duel deck.

Yami yawned, beat. He and Marik had been searching for three hours. The yellowish lights of the room were causing his eyes to water. Glancing over, he saw Marik's slumped form over some scrolls, meticulously hunting.

A knock on the door made them both alert. Yami got up, muscles protesting having sat so long. He walked over and opened the door. The curator stood there.

"Oh, may I help you?" Yami asked sleepily.

"I was just on the phone with Solomon. He says not to worry; your friend…Jou? is fine," the man informed him, slightly confused.

Yami closed his eyes for a moment, a burden lifted.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," he bowed slightly.

The curator nodded. "Have you found what you're looking for?"

Yami shook his head. "Not yet."

The man smiled kindly. "I'm sure you'll find it. I just was to let you know about your friend. I'll leave you to continue your search." He closed the door quietly.

"Did you hear that, Marik?" Yami turned.

"I've got it!" Marik exclaimed.

"Yes, it's good Jou's safe," Yami agreed.

"No, I mean I've got it! I've got the spell!"

Da-da-DA! What a cliffy, eh? How do you like that? (grins demonically) Oh I'm soooo evil!

I'd like to make an important announcement: If I didn't want peoples' opinions for this story I wouldn't bother posting it on the site or any other site. I want your thoughts. I want your criticism. I don't want small amounts of reviews or insults. That is all. (kowtows)

So you people have ten chappies to go. Haha! That's funny! My sister's pouting. She's read through the entire thing and wants to know what happens next. It leavesya hanging on some issues...well DUH! It has a sequel. (smiles) So yes. I probably will take a break and see what you guys think. Based on how you all critique in those lovely reviews you're going to be sending I'll be altering the chappies a bit (when necessary) I don't think I'll start on the sequel right away...I'm gonna focus on Cry of the Wicked for a while until you guys get closer to the end of this one.

Namarie for now!

REVIEW!