My rat's sick! (sobs) He's bleeding from the eyes! Poor Fowstie! My car died. Costed $450! Ack! My life sucks right now!

Anei Aikouka: Think Yami's plans are gonna turn out all wrong? (smirk) you'll see! I was struggling at first with Bakura and Jou after the rest of them showed up, but quickly got the hang of it. Thanks for the compliment. Review again, dear! Love ya!

DreaminChild: Don't worry your little head, honey. They're not gonna do anything bad to Kura. Will he ever have a heart again? (sighs wistfully) You'll find out eventually...perhaps...Review again! (hugs)

Satra: Yay! You're all confused about what'll happen next! Yay! What are they up to? (cackles) Welll...it doesn't directly involve Kura. (grins) Read away! Love ya!

dragonlady222: Like Jou and Bakura's "relationship"? I do too. Yay! There's a new twist with those two in this chappie. (cackles) I'm soooo mean to them! Yes, the memories were of Bakura's village. Thanks! Review again! Love ya!

azab: There you are! (hugs) Exams huh? (Shudders) Yeah, I have mine in two weeks...-.o...Ya, not looking forward to that. Yay! You love me! I love you!...this is going to be a good relationship! Azab: o.O...Hmmm...I've probably scared you now...Review again, dear! (Kowtows)

Freak in the Shadows: Typing for ten minutes? O.o...oookay then...I LOVE YOU! Review again, dearie!

Bluegrass Elf: Mwahaha! A chappie's never complete without a cliffie! (evil smirk) Yes, Kura should stop smoking. Me hates that habit so. -.0...Review again, dearie! Love ya!

Wishfull Thinker: (smirks) Would you rather I update less often?...I suppose I could if you really want me to...(cackles) I'm so mean! Wow. You really liked the poem, eh? I write all my poems down in this awesome notebook. Some kid in my religion class read the poem for this chappie over my shoulder and was like: "What the heck!" (cackles more) He was so disturbed! Thanks for the error thing, but i don't change my errors unless it's one that is offending in some way. Love ya! Review! (kowtows)

blackalbino: I know what you mean. I want a Ring too...you can't come up with threats fast? (grins) It comes pretty naturally to me...o.O...yeah...anyhoo, you want someone to smack Yami? Don't worry, there's fun next chappie! (no, they don't smack him, though...) I see we share a lot of favorite characters. Yay!...You like...snape?...um...(clears throat) So...how'd you like the latest Harry Potter book? (I'm being careful with my wording in case you haven't read it yet.) Review again, dear!

I'm dedicating this chappie to azab cause I missed them! Yay!

Changing

It's time to find

What my mind lacks

Forget the dreams

And face the facts.

Yearning to touch

What's out of reach

Not satisfied

With what they teach.

I'm not alone

I must be strong

Can't hide away,

I must press on.

Don't be afraid,

I'll be all right

Though peace of mind

Is not in sight.

Chapter 18: The Proposition

"Hi guys!" Yugi said cheerily when he opened the door to let the trio inside.

Ryou smiled but remained silent. Marik scowled.

"So where is everyone?" he grumbled.

"In the living room. Come on. Grandpa and Anzu already made snacks," Yugi beamed, leading the way.

Bakura walked beside Marik, a lit cigarette between his slender fingers. They entered the living room where everyone was lounging about. Ryou plopped down on the ground next to Honda while Marik and Bakura sat down on the couch where Jou was also reclining.

"Well, don't everyone say hi at once," Yugi mumbled, rolling his violet eyes.

"What's this about already?" Marik grumbled.

"You don't have to be rude about it," Honda replied curtly.

Marik held up the Millennium rod in a silent threat. During all the madness of recovering from recent events everyone had forgotten about the rod; everyone except Marik, that is.

"I think it's about time you give that back," Honda continued, although he looked intimidated.

"I will once I hear what the hell you had us come here for," Marik snarled.

Yami sat forward on his chair. "It's like this…"

"We're going to Egypt an' were wonderin' if you guys wanted to come along," Jou stated bluntly.

Marik opened his mouth only to have no words. Ryou looked positively thrilled. Bakura's expression didn't change in the slightest, inhaling another whiff of smoke.

"That's sounds wonderful! My father's over there right now. Perhaps he'll let us into the excavations he's working on right now," Ryou breathed, eyes wide with excitement.

The others started talking enthusiastically at this. Yami and Jou remained silent, watching Bakura. The thief still wasn't showing even any sign that he could hear. Jou felt a pain in the pit of his stomach. Returning to Egypt would without a doubt bring on old memories not only for Yami but reminders of a past that the former tomb robber did not seem to want to unearth.

Yami sat quietly, wondering if this was a mistake. He wasn't sure what type of reaction he was expecting from the tomb robber; this certainly wasn't it, though.

Bakura blew out a cloud of blackness, eyes not focusing. 'That's absolutely the last place on earth I want to go…Yet what choice do I have?...' He paused when he felt something in the corner of this mind...

'What the heck!'

Everyone stared in shock as both Bakura and Jou stumbled to their feet, staring in absolute alarm and disbelief at one another.

"What the hell!" Jou yelled eyes wide.

"How'd you do that? However you are, you'd better cut it out right now!" Bakura snarled, the ring around his neck flashing threateningly.

"I didn't do it!" Jou answered, panicked.

"Guys? What's going on?" Yami asked, rising to his feet.

"His voice was in my head!" Jou pointed a shaky finger at the thief.

Honda angrily rose to his feet, putting his fists up. "All right, that does it!"

Marik stood next to the thief, raising the Millennium rod and pointing it at Honda.

Bakura was staring in astonishment at the boy. Just what was going on? Nothing like this had ever happened before…

'My soul room…'

Jou paused, realization hitting him in full force. Everyone glanced uneasily between him and Bakura. The two exchanged a look.

"Yer' right," Jou nodded, sinking back onto the couch.

"What?" Yugi asked nervously.

"It's probably cause of when we were in your soul room…"

Everyone stared in horror.

"You…were in his soul room?" Marik whispered in distress, feeling uneasy about someone else being in the tomb robber's soul room. The young Egyptian was the only one who'd been in there before.

"What…how…?" Yami stuttered nervously.

"I guess it happened when you performed the spell…my hand slid against the ring when it was glowing…then I woke up in his soul room," Jou was unable to suppress a shudder.

"It must have created some type of link," Bakura nodded dismally.

"So what now? I'm not going to live the rest of my life with you prying into my thoughts!" Jou yelled, on the verge of hysterics.

"Like I'd want to find out what goes on in your head," Bakura shot back miserably, taking out another cigarette from his pocket.

"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't smoke in here," Mr. Mutou said sternly.

Bakura didn't reply, lighting it up and inhaling a deep breath of smoke.

"I said…" the old man began but Yami held up his hand, warning the him this was not a good time.

"I hate my life," Jou muttered, burying his face in his hands. "We're doomed! I'll be hearing your voice in my head for the rest of my existence!"

"No you won't, so hush up already!" Bakura growled, exhaling. "I'm going to put up a barrier. A nice, thick barrier so that I won't have to listen to your pointless droning."

Jou chose to ignore the insult, too relieved. "OH THANKS!"

The thief scowled. "I'm not doing it for you."

Marik smirked. It would be horrible to have your mind attached to Jou's. He quivered at the thought.

"So are you two coming or not?" Yugi continued the previous conversation, turning to Bakura and Marik.

The younger Egyptian glanced unsurely at the yami. He wouldn't have minded going to visit his sister and Odeon, but if Bakura didn't want to go….the thief caught his eye and shrugged, focusing instead on his cigarette.

"Sure. Count us in," Marik answered.

"I still can't believe you were in his soul room," Honda mused as they cleaned up the dishes from the living room.

Marik and Bakura had left. Honda had offered to drive Ryou home. The hikari was in the kitchen helping scrub the plates.

"What was it like?" Anzu asked excitedly.

Jou felt his stomach lurch slightly. He didn't want to discuss it; didn't even want to think about it. Honda caught the look in his eyes.

"Well, it should be interesting: flying to Egypt…on a plane…with Marik and Bakura," Honda said bemusedly, winking at the blonde who smiled gratefully.

"I'm sure they'll keep everyone on their toes," Yugi grinned as he pranced in.

"No doubt," Yami sighed, sitting down on the couch.

"It was nice of the museum to help pay for it, especially after Marik ran off with their scroll," Yugi snickered.

"Aibou, we could have gotten in so much trouble for that," Yami groaned.

"But we didn't; so it's funny," Yugi continued to giggle.

Jou rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile; it was all so hard though. He was still coming to grips with the fact that he and Bakura now had a mind link. Well, it wouldn't matter because Bakura was putting up that barrier, much to the blonde's relief.

"Jou?" Yami asked, coming over and placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Huh?" Jou asked, coming back to the present moment.

"Are you all right?"

Jou heaved a sigh, drained emotionally and physically. "I…I don't know about this thing in Egypt."

Yami furrowed his brow. "Did you sense something from Bakura?"

The boy nodded eyes downcast. "I found out our minds had a link when I…heard some of his thoughts."

Yami felt a sense of dread. "May I ask what?"

Jou slowly ran a hand through his blonde hair. "He was thinking how much he didn't want to go back…that it was the last place he wanted to go to…but that he didn't have a choice…"

"Did he say why he thought he didn't have a choice?" Yami asked, not wanting the thief to feel obligated to go.

Jou shrugged helplessly. "That's when we both…reacted." He smiled sheepishly.

Yami sighed. "I don't want him to feel pressured. That won't help anyone. He's been through enough…" His voice trailed off.

"I think Marik caught on. Hopefully he'll talk to 'im," Jou said quietly, looking over at Yugi, Anzu, and Honda who had started a pillow fight. "Guess we'll just have to wait an' see what he decides."

"All right, I know you don't really want to go to Egypt. Are you just humoring me? 'Cause I do not need that," Marik growled as he and the thief got ready for bed.

"What do you want to hear, Marik?" Bakura sighed in exasperation as he took of his t-shirt.

"I want to hear why you agreed to go. The TRUTH," Marik hissed, following the thief into the hall.

Bakura turned. "Do you have to watch my every move?" He threw the shirt down the laundry shoot.

Marik smirked, leaning against the wall. "Perhaps I will unless you tell me."

"Fine…but I'm going back to my room," the thief scowled, brushing past the younger Egyptian.

Marik snickered, loving to annoy the yami. He trailed behind him back into Bakura's bedroom. The thief slumped down on his back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"I have to finish something."

Marik stared in surprise. 'Okaaay that's not the answer I was expecting…'

He walked over and fell on the bed next to his friend, lying on his side so he could view the yami's face. Bakura didn't look over at him, gazing up at the cracks that wove around the ceiling.

"Well?" Marik pressed impatiently after waiting a few minutes.

Bakura turned his head to look at the blonde. "Well what?"

"Aren't you going to explain?" Marik continued.

A smirk formed on the yami's face. "That wasn't part of the deal. I've stated the reason I'm going back. Now, I'm going to sleep." He rolled so he was facing the wall, the ring glowed briefly then the lights in the room were extinguished.

"Oh hell no!" Marik growled striding over to the switch on the wall and flipping the lights back on.

Bakura rolled over, an annoyed look on his face. "What?"

"You know what! Don't you 'what?' me!" Marik shrieked, advancing on the form on the bed.

Bakura sighed. "Must you know every single thought in my head?" He pulled a cigarette out of nowhere, lighting it up.

"BAKURA!" Marik screeched in complete fury.

"Hmm?" the yami asked uninterestedly, inhaling.

"You damn bastard! You Knew! You KNEW I was gonna question you so you went and…"

A small knock on the door caused them both to turn to Ryou who was peeking in.

"Excuse me, Marik. Some of us want to sleep tonight. Could you take it down about twelve notches?" the hikari mumbled groggily.

Bakura burst into a fit of laughter. Marik glowered at from hikari to yami. Ryou was a bit more awake now, not understanding what was funny.

Bakura calmed in a few seconds grinning devilishly. "Don't worry, light. Marik was just about to shut up and go to sleep. Otherwise he said he'd sleep on the couch tonight." He ended this sentence with a meaningful look at the blonde that left no room for protests.

"Mmm…s'nice…" Ryou murmured, staggering back to his room through the pitch black hall.

Marik turned to give the thief one final death glare before marching over and flipping the lights off.

"I hate you sometimes, you know that," he growled, trudging back over to the bed.

Bakura chuckled, moving over so the boy could get in the bed. "Good night, Marik."

Wow. Five chappies to go! O.o...I'd better start working more on the sequel. I've picked a name for it and done some other stuff with it. (check the section of my profile page where I discuss my stories. I update it even more often than the stories...if that's even possible...-.-)

Next chappie's there mostly for comedy. It's awesome, that's what! (laughs hysterically) Oooh I pick on peoples!

Review!