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

Ryu: Scared doesn't begin to describe how I'm feeling right now. I'm suffering major writers block on this story but I figure I should try to get some work done as a Christmas present to you all. I'm gonna try to get this chapter up before the 16th since I'm leaving out of town the 17th and will be gone for the rest of the year (get to see my fiancée). So anyway, let's se if I can't pull a story out of my ass.

Lady-Silverkiss: Maybe you didn't read last chappy closely enough if you didn't see anything wrong with it but I'm glad you liked it, and my lemon. Hopefully I'll do better this time though.

Adva Atreyu: Probably you're shortest review ever. I know this chapter wasn't that great, I'll try harder this time around. Sorry about the cameos, I'll try to work a good one into this chapter or the next. And thanks for the help you gave.

GreyLiliy: I know; Ryou's so cute when he's tortured. And I tried to make Bakura a little more fun but I'm thinking that'll change soon, we'll see.

Capricious Purple Clarity: Not one of Ryou's most admirable moves but one he made. He's really using his sister as an excuse to escape the swirling confusion in his mind over whom he loves. Hm… this gives me an idea.

Andyouthinkimcrazy: You only reviewed chapter 5 so I wonder if you even read the whole thing. Anyway, you didn't really say much about the story but I do appreciate your advice and have been trying it out in some of my other stories. So hopefully it's helping and hopefully you'll read more.

Ryu: And now, the writing session from Hell begins. I hope it turns out better than the last.

Chapter 13: The More the Merrier

"…Amane-chan…" Ryou whispered at seeing the little girl with silver-brown hair and dark green eyes standing in the doorway, wearing a pink dress and white stockings. His eyes were still watery and kind of pink but that couldn't mask the sheer joy of seeing his sister.

"Onii-chan!" she said excitedly, a few happy tears in her eyes as she latched onto the pale boy. "I've missed you so much," she said, nuzzling into his shirt.

"Amane," Ryou said happily, his arms wrapping around the little girl. He hadn't seen his little sister in four or five months, but it had felt like an eternity to be away from his cute sibling. "Were you a good girl without me?"

Amane nodded into his shirt, smiling broadly.

"That's so cute," Miho said.

Only then did Ryou realize that his friends had all gathered around and were watching the sight. Even Shizuka and Malik had come from the kitchen, both still looking downtrodden but keeping it hidden before the little girl. He blushed a little and pulled away from her so that he was standing next to her instead.

"Um, guys… this is Amane… my sister…"

Amane looked on nervously at the group before hiding herself in her brother's shirt again.

"You don't have to be shy," Ryou told her. "These are my friends, they're not going to hurt you."

Amane looked shyly back at group, her eyes scanning every one of them until landing on a particular figure.

"Is that little kid one of your friends onii-chan," she asked, indicating Mokuba.

"Who you calling a little kid, I'm older than you," Mokuba exclaimed while everyone else just laughed.

"He is a friend, he's also Seto-kun's little brother," Ryou explained.

"Oh, I see," Amane said, looking back to the group. "Is he someone's little brother too?" she asked shyly, gesturing at Yugi this time.

This only made everyone laugh harder, even causing Jou to fall over, everyone with the exception of Yugi who began fuming.

"He is short enough to be isn't he?" Mai joked through her laughter.

"Shut up," the spiky-haired boy shouted.

"Lighten up aibou, it's a party," Yami told him through his snickers.

Yugi just sighed at the group.

"No, he's my age," Ryou told his sister when the laughter had died. "Come on, let's all go talk in the living room."

"Hold it."

Everyone looked to the door where a muscular man with a raspy voice, short blonde hair, and blue eyes was standing, wearing a pair of dirty jeans and flannel shirt.

"Someone needs to tell us where to put this stuff." He gestured over his shoulder where a man with gray eyes and short red hair was helping another man with spiky brown hair and crystal blue eyes move a set of small furniture off the truck.

"I'll take care of it, you all go have fun," Bakura offered.

"Are you sure otou-san?" Ryou was worried his father might forget something at anytime, particularly the movers.

"It'll be okay, go have your party," Bakura said, waving it off.

Ryou sighed and nodded, not wanting to make a scene in front of his sister, before saying, "Amane, go into the living room. I'll be there in a second; I need to talk to Seto-kun."

"H…hai," she said shyly, following the teens into the living room while Bakura followed the movers out to the truck.

"What do you need?" Seto asked when everyone had cleared out.

"I just wanted to know if you had found anything to help out otou-san," Ryou said, walking to the boy and staring up at him. Why was he so tall?

"Not yet. I may have a lead though. A friend of mine in Germany, owner of Schraider Corp, says he may know of a person. I'm waiting for him to get in touch with me.

"All the way in Germany?" Ryou asked.

"It's the best lead I've had so far," Seto replied flatly.

Ryou sighed. "Arigatou, Seto-kun. Please keep me updated."

Seto nodded at his friend before turning and walking into the living room to re-join the party.

Ryou held back a moment, looking out the front door to see his father trying to balance a lamp on the palm of his hand while the movers cheered for him.

"Otou-san…" Ryou said with a happy smile before going into the living room where his friends were questioning Amane while at the same time trying to show off to her. Jou in particular had stolen the show with his ability to eat to the point he chokes without dying multiple times in a row.

"You're going to kill yourself at this rate," Mai scolded as she tried to knock food out of his airway for the third time.

Ryou smiled, going to sit down with everyone, happy that his sister was comfortable in the new surrounding. As long as he could take care of his sister he could forget it all: his dad's condition, the events of last night, the triangle between him, Shizuka and Malik; he could forget it all and focus on this little girl that was his own flesh and blood.

/AFTER THE PARTY/

"Thanks for coming everyone," Ryou said as he waved to his friends retreating forms.

"That was an awesome party," Jou complemented as he walked up to Ryou. "The food was so good."

"Glad you enjoyed yourself Jou-kun," Ryou said happily. "I'll see you in class Monday?"

"You bet, night," Jou said before leaving the house.

Behind Jou walked Shizuka. She didn't look at Ryou at all, just walked past angrily, following her brother to the car.

Ryou sighed as he watched the cute girl walking away, then shook his head in frustration. 'You're going to forget about her and Malik-kun…' he reminded himself. 'Amane and otou-san need you most.'

He closed the door and sighed, tired physically from the party, exhausted emotionally from his "relationship". He walked back into the living room, ready to help Bakura pick up, and was caught off-guard at seeing Malik already doing so while Bakura and Amane talked and caught up.

"Hey there Ryou-kun," Malik said, as if nothing had happened.

"Malik-kun offered to stay and help pick up," Bakura said happily.

"But otou-san, did you forget about…" he stopped there, remembering his sister was in the room.

"Forget what?" Bakura asked curiously.

"Never mind," Ryou said, frustrated that his father's condition had been fine all day until now. He sighed and turned to the Egyptian boy. "Malik-kun…"

Malik looked up from the garbage bag he was stuffing full of paper cups and plates.

"Can I talk to you in the kitchen a moment?"

Malik, though surprised, nodded eagerly, following the pale boy out of the room.

"None of last night," Bakura called from his seat, causing Ryou to twitch angrily.

'He would remember like that,' he grumbled to himself as he reached the kitchen.

"Your dad really is a sweet guy; funny too," Malik said cheerfully. "I wish my dad could've been like him. My dad was so strict. You're lucky to have such a fun guy…"

"Malik-kun," Ryou interrupted.

Malik stopped, looking nervously at Ryou.

"Why are you here?"

"To help you guys clean up," Malik answered shakily.

"Tell the truth."

Malik was silent a moment, waiting to see if Ryou would give in. The hard looks Ryou was giving him said otherwise and he sighed, knowing he'd have to be honest with the boy.

"I wanted to spend more time with you," Malik said with all his heart.

"But after last night… and what I did… and what I said earlier… Amane-chan and…"

"I know, Ryou-kun. But I don't care," Malik cut in with a flat tone and tears forming in his eyes. "If you don't want to be with anyone right now… If you want to spend time with your sister… If you truly want to sleep with me then run off… If that's all you think of me then fine, I accept it. But just because we're not together doesn't mean we can't spend time together. Because, no matter what you feel for me, I love you."

Ryou's eyes widened, a few tears forming.

"I can't help but love you, it's not my choice," Malik confessed while he sobbed, bowing his head and clenching his fists at his sides. "I just do love you. And even if it was my choice I'd still choose to love you. So please, if you don't want to be with me, then at least let me spend some time being with you… please…"

"How can you even love me? After I've been so horrible to you," Ryou wondered.

Malik looked up at him, a sad smile shining through his tears. "I told you… I can't help it," he said through sobs.

A long silence followed that statement, neither boy knowing what to say to the other. One as too confused to be able to say anything, the other so anxious to hear the first's reply that words couldn't find him.

"Even if that's true," Ryou started after a while. "There's still Shizuka-chan. I don't want to see her get hurt."

Malik sighed, wishing his love had never met the girl. Though he did care for her as a friend it would be a lot easier to win Ryou over to him if she weren't around.

"I'm sorry Malik-kun, but I don't think I can make a decision that will hurt one of you," Ryou said.

"But you can make a decision that'll hurt both of us," Malik scoffed angrily.

Ryou opened his mouth but words fell short of him and he closed it again, bowing his head.

"I'm sorry… that my love has to hurt you so much…"

Ryou didn't look up at the words. And he didn't look up when the Egyptian boy walked passed him and out of the house. He stood there, alone, shaking in his misery, remembering that day over a month ago. The day he'd wanted to erase from his mind. The day it had all come out had been the worst day of Ryou's life. And now, at the worst possible time, those memories came flooding back.

He fell to his knees, clutching his head and crying as all the pain, all the silence, seemed to grow out of nowhere and encircle him once again, much like they had that day in the icy waters of Domino Bay.

"Onii-chan…"

Ryou looked up suddenly, tears still in his eyes, and looked to the doorway where his little sister stood.

"Amane…" A whisper.

The little girl crossed the room and knelt down before her brother, trying to see into his teary eyes.

"What's wrong onii-chan?" she asked, innocence shining clearly in her voice. "Why did your friend leave all of a sudden? He looked pretty upset. Did you two have a fight?"

As if a ray of light were cutting through the darkness the memories of that day slowly began to recede into the recesses of Ryou's mind.

He took his hands, shakily, off his head and wrapped his arms around the little girl, pulling her into a tender hug.

"Nothing's wrong…" he whispered to her. "As long as I have you, Amane-chan, everything is okay."

Though still confused, the little girl smiled and nodded to her brother, returning the hug while Ryou's tears came to a halt.

Bakura looked on at his children from he kitchen doorway, happy they could have one another since most of the time they couldn't have him. He smiled and turned to go to his room, trusting that Ryou could put the little girl to bed.

As he touched the doorknob though, a sudden thought struck him. 'I wonder what it would be like to have kids…'

/THE FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING/

"Are you gonna be okay Amane?" Ryou asked the little girl.

Amane looked up, uneasily, at her brother and smiled. She was nervous about starting her first day at Domino Elementary School, but she didn't want her big brother to worry.

"I'll be fine," she said with a nod.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes onii-chan," she replied irritably, starting to shove her brother out through the courtyard gate. "Now go to school before you're late, I'll be fine."

"All right, I'm going," Ryou said, stopping and kneeling down before the girl, hugging her tightly. "I promise to pick you up here after school."

"Okay," Amane said, sighing. Her brother was such a worrywart.

Ryou still held her for a moment longer, until she nudged him in the chest, before finally letting go and standing up, watching as his sister turned and ran into the school building, disappearing into a sea of small people.

He wanted to stay behind, wait outside the school all day until she got out, but knew he should go to his classes as much as she should. Sighing, he turned away and stared walking down the sidewalk admiring the pretty colors of the changing leaves and dreaming about coming back this way on the way home to pick up the little girl.

'I should probably ask Yami-san if he would mind stopping there everyday on the way to and from school,' he thought to himself. 'I don't want Amane walking out in the cold.'

He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and found himself tripping over a hole in the sidewalk's pavement, causing him to stumble and fall into someone else that had just turned the corner. Ryou was still a pretty clumsy guy.

"Gomen nasai," he said, rubbing his sore bottom and looking up to see… pink?

'Please no,' he thought.

A second later a pair of hands were pushing the navy blue skirt down in between the pair of smooth-looking legs and a face on the other side, framed with chestnut hair and adorn with grayish-brown eyes, appeared.

"Shizuka-chan…"

Ryu: Okay, I know it's short but by ending it here I've set up, what I think, is an awesome lead into the next chapter. So if you don't like you can suck it. On top of all that I promised my fiancée I'd help her study for her finals this week so I probably won't have any more time before my trip anyway.

So yeah, that's it or this chapter. I think it's a lot better than the last and hopefully you all will too. See y'all in the New Year. Ja ne.