Disclaimer: I don't own Yuugiou… sadly y,y

Ryu: 9,9 Waaaaaaaaaaa… Thank you all so much for your reviews! I thought no one cared but you all do! I spent so many months ignoring my teachers and driver's ed instructor to write this story and thought no one wanted to read it now that I'm posting it! Thank you! I have to thank you all properly!

Lady-Silverkiss: It's okay, I forget to sometimes too. I'm just so happy to know people are not only reading but actually like my story too. I'm fired up and energized, I'm gonna keep writing and writing and writing.

atticus: Thank you too. Just hearing that someone likes my story makes me want to go on with it. I hope you like the rest of the story as I post it. I'm gonna get started.

Ryu: …Enough of this stuff, let's get to writing. Just to forewarn everyone, this is the chapter that starts the real drama of the story, so I hope you all still like it. Well, here goes.

Chapter 5: Tell Me Yours

Ryou ran as fast as he could down the deserted sidewalk, his clothes and bag completely forgotten at his friend's house. The only thing he'd grabbed before running from Malik's house was the light blue cell phone he'd been holding after his father's distressing call.

/FLASHBACK/

Ryou had been showing Malik the art of creating RPG characters, one of his favorite hobbies. He thought he'd never get to role-play again after moving and was delightfully surprised to find Malik so interested. His fun was interrupted though when his cell phone rang with the sound of 'Every Heart' from Do As Infinity.

Ryou had wondered who'd call him as he retrieved the object. He'd given his number to his friends last night but didn't think any of them would actually use it. He looked down at the screen, expecting it to be Jou with some perverted, idiotic story or Yami and Yugi wanted to go to the arcade, and felt his heart sink below his stomach at the sight of the words 'otou-san calling…' on the screen.

He swallowed nervously around the lump in his throat as he answered the call and brought the phone to his ear.

"Mo… moshi… moshi…" he got out.

"Ryou-kun?" came Bakura's fearful voice as soon as he heard his son. "Ryou-kun? Where are you?"

"Still at Malik-kun's," he answered, trying to hold back his scared sobs. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know," Bakura said. "I woke up in this place but I have no idea where I am, some strange house. My stuff's here and so is yours but your mom and sister's isn't. What's going on?" Bakura was slowly becoming hysterical.

"Calm down, otou-san," Ryou said, trying to soothe his father. "We moved away from mom and Amane, remember?"

Malik looked up nervously at those words.

"Please come here Ryou," Bakura begged, ignoring what his son had said.

'It's getting worse,' Ryou realized, 'My reasoning isn't getting through to him.'

"Please Ryou-kun. I'm at 24 -"

"I know where otou-san," Ryou broke in. "I'm coming, just wait there."

The line went dead, leaving Ryou shaking with nervous fear.

"Ryou-kun…" Malik tried.

"I have to go," Ryou said, running from the room and leaving Malik without time to respond.

"Ryou-kun!" Malik called, jumping to run after the boy. He was only at the top of the living room stairs when Ryou was sprinting out the door, still putting his shoes on as he ran.

"Ryou-kun…"

/END FLASHBACK/

'Otou-san must be getting worse,' Ryou kept thinking, running as hard as he could, not feeling any fatigue or loss of breath, his worry over powering everything else. 'Please, oh please, let him be all right. I don't want to lose my dad for good!'

"Ryou-kun!"

Ryou looked over his shoulder, though he still ran, and saw a black car with Malik's head showing out of the back window speeding up after him.

'Oh no,' Ryou thought. 'If Malik-kun finds out…If he gets involved… it'll just cause problems for him and his family… I can't let him get involved.'

Ryou just looked ahead and kept running, trying to pretend he hadn't seen the car.

"Ryou-kun," Malik said as the car pulled up next to Ryou. "Get in, we'll take you where you're going."

"No, I can't let you," Ryou panted.

"Nani? Why the hell not?" Malik was confused, to say the very least.

"Because I can't let you get involved," Ryou shouted, tears visible in his eyes, his face stung by the cold air hitting his damp cheeks. "I can't let you be burdened by this!"

The car sped ahead a few feet before coming to a stop. The door opened and a pair of dark-skinned hands reached out and pulled Ryou into the car.

"Drive onii-chan," Malik ordered.

The dark-skinned, light-haired driver just nodded, flooring the gas.

"Mariku-kun?" Ryou was the one confused now.

"Never mind him," Malik demanded. "Tell me what the fuck is going on."

"No!" Ryou shouted, "I don't want to make things hard for you or your family. I can't let you guys get involved."

"Baka! We're already involved," Malik yelled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryou shot back, becoming slowly angry at the intrusion to his personal life, not to mention his attempt at protecting his friends being ignored. "How can you say you're already involved when you don't even know what's going on?"

"Because I'm in love with you!"

Malik gasped at his outburst and looked away from the snowy boy. Ryou fell instantly silent, his tears slowing to a halt.

"Na…nani?" Ryou managed to get out.

A few tears found their way passed Malik's eyes now as he looked back at Ryou. "I'm in love with you Ryou-kun. I love you so much. I want to protect you. I want to help you. So please… please tell me what's going on. I just told you my secret so please, tell me yours."

Ryou sniffed once, trying to hold his tears back as he took a deep breath, ready to tell someone his secret. "It's… otou-san… he… he suffers from… SMLD."

"What the fuck is that?" Mariku asked from the front.

"Spontaneous Memory Lose Disorder," Ryou answered. The rest of the drive was spent explaining the disorder and what his life had become after his father had been diagnosed with it.

"Oh gods Ryou-kun," Malik gasped as Ryou ended his story.

"I didn't even know such a thing existed," Mariku said. "And I know all kinds of psychologically disorders."

'Because you have most of them,' Malik couldn't help from thinking. He didn't let himself laugh though, not at a time like this.

"It's pretty rare," Ryou said. "And now," a few more tears seeped out of those chocolate orbs, "Now I think it's getting worse. I think he's approaching the final stage. And I don't want him to get there."

"What happens in the final stage?" Malik was scared to ask.

"It goes away," Ryou said blankly.

"And how the hell is that bad?" Mariku asked.

"Because…" Ryou sobbed, "Before it goes away completely… he'll lose a random memory like always… but… but…" He stopped; unable to control it anymore, as his sobs became full-body wracking cries, the thought of what would happen scaring him so much.

"But what Ryou-kun?" Malik asked, trying to get through to his friend.

"But that memory wo… wo… won't come ba…ack…" he cried.

"Oh Ryou-kun," Malik gasped. He wrapped his arms around the crying boy, stroking his hair and trying his best to calm him.

"Hang on queers, we're almost there," Mariku said, pressing down harder on the gas.

They sped around the corner and pulled, crookedly, into Ryou's driveway just in time for Ryou to dash from the car, not caring if it'd stopped or not.

"Otou-san!" he called, bursting through his father's bedroom door only to find Bakura sleeping peacefully in his bed. "Otou-san…" He walked over to the bed and shook the sleeping man gently. "Otou-san… are you all right… Wake up… otou-san…"

Malik and Mariku came quickly into the room after Ryou just in time to see Bakura groggily opening his eyes.

"Otou-san…" Ryou gasped, throwing his arms around his father's neck and hugging him tightly. "Otou-san, I was so worried."

"…Who the fuck are you?" came Bakura's dark voice.

Ryou's eyes shot wide open just in time to be thrown to the floor, pain shooting through him at the contact.

"Ryou-kun, daijoubu?" Malik asked, running to him.

"H… hai," Ryou said through gritted teeth.

"Watch out!" Mariku yelled.

Bakura had risen from the bed and had just thrown the lamp off the bedside table at the two boys. Luckily for them Mariku had jumped in the way, blocking them from the hit and taking it himself.

"Onii-san!" "Mariku-san!"

"Onii-san, are you all right?" Malik asked, crawling to his brother.

"I'm fine," Mariku gritted out. "Ryou, I thought you said he remembered you?"

"He did," Ryou said.

"I'm calling the police if you're all not out of my house in five seconds," Bakura warned, hurling a broken piece of the lamp at them.

"Well he doesn't now," Mariku said, shielding the two again. "He definitely knows he lives here though."

"Let's continue this outside," Ryou suggested, ushering them out the door.

Outside Ryou slammed the door shut and began fumbling through his keys until he found the one that would lock his father in the bedroom. Sighing in relief Ryou slumped down against the locked door. Inside they could still hear the enraged Bakura's screams.

"Open this door!" he demanded, banging on the locked portal. "Where the hell did you get that key? Open this damned door before I call the police!"

The pounding stopped shortly after and they could now hear the sound of Bakura stomping around the room, probably in search of his phone.

"Great, so what do we do when the cops get here?" Mariku asked.

"They won't, they'll call ahead and check with me first," Ryou said tiredly.

"You say that like this has happened before," Mariku said. He'd taken his sleeveless black shirt off and was checking his arms and back where he'd been hit by the lamp and its pieces.

"It has," Ryou said, "A few times. They know about his condition. He forgets me or the neighbors and calls it in. He does it to try and protect everyone, even if he's usually cold to them all."

"So what's the deal?" Mariku asked, now surveying his khaki pants for signs of blood.

"I guess he remembered moving and decided to take a nap," Ryou offered. "Waking up he must've forgotten me."

"Just waking up?"

"It's spontaneous," Ryou defended. "It comes and goes at anytime."

"Great, so what do we do?" Mariku asked, pulling his shirt back on.

"First we wait for the police to call. After that we just wait till we can jog his memory."

"And if we can't?"

"Let's hope we can," Ryou said as 'Every Heart' started playing on his phone. He answered the call and found the police on the other end. "Moshi moshi…"

"Hai…"

"No…"

"Just another lapse…"

"No, I'll take care of it…"

"Hai, arigatou…" he hung up.

"So?" Mariku asked.

"They'll let me take care of it, so that's one thing out of the way," Ryou said.

"Good. So what usually jogs his memory?" Mariku went on.

"Usually something related to what he forgot," Ryou said. "He forgets me a lot but remembers as soon as he talks to me."

"Well that didn't work this time," Mariku growled, rolling his sore shoulder.

"I don't believe it…"

Both Ryou and Mariku looked at the forgotten Malik, who was sitting on the floor a bit further down the hall, his eyes wide as saucers.

"Malik-kun?" Ryou asked curiously.

Malik looked up at the white-haired boy with those frightful eyes. "I can't believe it…" he repeated.

"Believe what?" Ryou asked.

"Just yesterday… he was such a sweet man…" Malik got out. "But now… now he's… he's some kind of maniac…"

Ryou looked sadly down at the floor. "Hai, you met my old otou-san, from before his condition. He was so nice, but now he's only cold and cruel. It gets even worse when he forgets something… he gets violent…" a single tear slipped passed Ryou's eye. "It hurts the most… physically and spiritually… when he forgets me…"

"Ryou-kun…" Malik gasped. He stood from his place and walked to the boy, drawing him into a gentle hug while he cried on his shoulder. Seeing Bakura like that had been a shock to Malik, but he just now realized how much of a shock it had been to Ryou the first time he saw his father like this.

"Where's the phone?" Mariku asked.

"There isn't one, only their cell phones."

"Then give me yours."

"Why?" Malik just couldn't figure his brother out.

"I'm going to call someone for help," Mariku stated plainly.

"No!" Ryou shouted, jumping from Malik's shoulder. "No hospitals! I won't put otou-san away, I won't!"

"While a hospital sounds like a good idea," Mariku said. "I had someone else in mind…"

/TWENTY MINUTES LATER/

The front door burst open and Jounouchi ran into the house, glancing around till he saw Ryou and the two Egyptians sitting in the den.

"Ryou-kun!" he called, running to the boy. "Are you all right?"

"He won't stop…"Ryou whispered. He was sitting next to Malik, his hands clutching at his hair on either side of his head.

"Nani?"

"Thirty minutes… he won't stop… he forgot me Jou-kun…" Ryou broke down again, crying hard into Malik's arms.

"Ryou-kun…" Jou had never imaged he'd see Ryou like this. "What's going on?"

"Come with me," Mariku said flatly.

"Why should I?" Jou asked, not taking his eyes off Ryou. "Why are you even here?"

"Just do it," Mariku growled.

Jou shot a questioning glance at Malik who just nodded. Sighing, he got up and left the room with Mariku, leaving Ryou and Malik alone.

"It'll be all right," Malik assured the crying boy. "Jou-kun has trouble with his dad too. He'll think of something."

Ryou just nodded into Malik's now tear-stained shirt.

Malik just held Ryou, patting and stroking the boy's silky white hair like he would a shaking, scared kitten. He wasn't sure but he even thought he heard the boy purr a bit, causing a flush to cross his cheeks, a flush that only darkened when Ryou actually nuzzled into Malik's touch.

"Ryou-san… Malik-san…"

Both boys looked up at the sound of such a gentle voice. Shizuka stood there in the doorway, wearing a denim skirt, pale pink shirt, and a faded denim jacket, her chestnut hair falling straight down her back, her smoky brown eyes looking fearful.

"Shizuka-chan…" Ryou was in awe at the sight of the girl.

He could tell he was starting to blush and could feel his heart quicken as she crossed the room and knelt down before him, her eyes shining with pity and concern. Ryou just couldn't stop himself from leaping into Shizuka's arms, almost knocking the girl over as he sobbed into here jacket.

"Ryou-san…" Shizuka was taken aback by this act but let it happen. She wrapped her arms around the boy and began to stroke his hair in the same way Malik had. "It's okay, Ryou-san. It's gonna be okay…"

Malik watched his beloved snuggling into the girl's arms, wishing the white-haired boy would take that much comfort in him. But he was somewhat happy when the loud crash down the hall pulled the two apart. Ryou and Shizuka looked up at the noise, both worried. A second later they could see Bakura being dragged, unconscious, into the room by a panting Mariku and Jounouchi.

"Otou-san!" "Onii-chan!" The three yelled, each jumping up and running to their kin.

"Onii-chan, daijoubu!" Shizuka asked as she tried to help her brother stand.

"Hai," Jou replied, lowering the older man to the floor before collapsing from exhaustion. "Kuso, the old guy puts up a good fight."

"What happened?" Ryou asked.

"I thought you guys were gonna talk to him?" Malik asked.

"Tried that," Mariku stated from his brother's arms.

"Wouldn't listen to us," Jou said. "We had to take him down."

"Is he all right?" Ryou asked.

"All I did was knock him out," Jou said. "As for all right I think you'll have to tell us."

Ryou just nodded his agreement.

"You should probably get him some ice," Mariku suggested. "Might help."

Ryou nodded, got up, and headed for the kitchen.

"Grab some for my hand too," Jou called after him.

"You pansy," Mariku spat with a smirk.

"Shut up. The guy's got a jaw of marble or somethin'," Jou retorted.

"Lets move him onto the sofa," Malik suggested, not wanting another fight to start. He and Shizuka grabbed his arms while Jou and Mariku got his lags and together, struggling a bit at first, they all managed to move Bakura onto the couch. For being such a thin guy he was pretty heavy.

"Must all be muscle," Jou assumed, rubbing his sore arms.

Ryou came back into the room just then, three packs of ice wrapped in towels in hand. "Arigatou, mina," he said upon seeing his father on the couch and handed an ice pack to Jou.

"Forget about it," the blonde said, placing the ice on his hand.

"Otou-san…" Ryou whispered, placing one pack on his father's forehead. He sighed and looked away, just happening to catch a glimpse of Mariku rubbing his shoulder. Smiling he walked to the boy and held out the last ice pack, saying sweetly, "Here, for your shoulder."

"A… arigatou," Mariku said, taking the pack, amazed Ryou had given him any thought.

"So what happens if he wakes up and still doesn't know you Ryou-kun?" Jou asked, worried for his friend.

"He will remember," Ryou said with as much determination as he could muster.

"I'm still not really sure what's going on," Shizuka cut in.

"Come to think of it, me neither," Jou said. "I just know the little bit Mariku-kun told me."

Ryou looked sadly over to Malik, his eyes asking if he should let the siblings in. Malik smiled and nodded, his eyes saying 'it's okay, we can trust our friends'. Sighing, Ryou nodded and began retelling the story about the past year with his father and how the man had changed from so sweet and caring to a lunatic that might forget what breakfast is. He could see the expressions changing on Jou and Shizuka's faces as he told his story, going from glum to worry to pity to many others that showed their sympathy for the pale boy.

"Oh Ryou-san," Shizuka gasped as the story ended.

"How come you never told us?" Jou asked. "We would've been there for you all along."

"I just didn't want to burden any of you," he said, tears forming in his eyes. He was going to let them fall till a comforting hand touched his shoulder and he turned to see a smiling Malik behind him.

"You'll never be a burden to us Ryou-kun. Because we're your friends, and we'll always be here for you."

Ryou sniffled back his tears and smiled at Malik. "Arigatou, Malik-kun."

"Hey Ryou-kun?" Jou spoke up. "I just had a thought."

"Did it hurt?" Mariku commented sarcastically.

"Watch it," Jou growled.

"What is it Jou-kun?" Ryou asked.

"Why don't we ask Kaiba-kun to help find a cure? He is a multi-billionaire, I'm sure he can find someone who knows something."

Ryou just shook his head. "Otou-san wouldn't go for it. And I don't want to make him mad."

"Let him get mad," Jou said, his voice rising a bit. "It'll be for his own good in the end. And yours too."

"I said no!" Ryou rose from his seat and glared darkly at Jou. "Okaa-san already has a boyfriend. Even if otou-san got better she wouldn't take him back; not after what he's done. And he would be just as cold. No matter what, we'll never be a family again. So what's the point?"

"But Ryou-kun–"

"Just get out! Just leave!" Ryou said darkly.

"Ryou-kun…" Malik said.

"Please, just go," Ryou said weakly, not wanting to look at any of them.

"Whatever," Mariku huffed before starting out of the room.

The others exchanged nervous glances with one another before following Mariku, leaving Ryou alone with his unconscious shadow of a father. When they'd all gone Ryou collapsed back down to the floor, his tears falling quickly, his mind racing, his heart aching.

Ryou had told his secret, his father's secret, and only gotten hurt. And it was him who had hurt himself.

Ryu: I cried when I first wrote this chapter. And it the next two only get sadder and sadder. Anyway, I hope you all like it and I'm looking forward to more reviews (desperate for reviews).

I was wondering though, when you review this time, could you review my writing as well as the story? Everyone says I'm a good writer but I don't think I am, I think I just make up for poor writing skills by having interesting storylines. Could you reviewers help me out? I'd appreciate it. Hope you liked this chappy and continue to like the rest. I'll try to update again soon. Ja ne.