/Yugi to YamiYami to YugiRyou to Bakura Bakura to Ryou

Song words of My Immortal

"Ryou, do you have any idea of how pissed off Yami was after that?" Yugi asked calmly, dragging a comb through the tangled, colourful mess that was his hair.

His friend shrugged. "The only reason he does things like that is to provoke him. Bakura's still depending on the dream that he'll one day reign supreme over the Pharaoh."

Yugi sighed and sat almost sadly onto his bed. Yep, the reminder of Yami had hurt him once more. Ryou frowned when this was noticed, and strode over to sit beside the young hikari.

"That isn't all that's bothering you, Yugi. I've known you for too long now not to see things like this. Has Yami said anything to upset you? Have you fallen out or something? Onegai… talk to me, Yugi." Ryou almost pleaded, acknowledging that his last few sentences ad struck a nerve.

"Why do you assume its Yami? It could be about Jou and Seto not being here." Yugi pointed out, noting Ryou's eyes narrow. When in that kind of a pose, he truly did look like his yami.

I'm so tired of being here, suppressed by all my childish fears.

"Firstly, Yugi, it would never be about Jou and Seto, purely because this wouldn't be a holiday for them. Just another opportunity to screw intensely. Secondly… your problems are always linked to Yami."

Yugi slapped his head at his obviousness. Well, he'd have to drink the bitter piss and confide in Ryou.

"Thing is… Ryou… WHAT the hell is THAT?" Yugi whispered, leaning his head slightly downwards.

Yami and Bakura

"SCREW THIS, YOU MURDERING TWAT!" Bakura shrieked, laying down his almighty magic card. Yami peered down at it, and promptly snorted in disbelief.

"The Change of Heart card? How original of you, Tomb Robber. Just say which card you're gonna take and then I can resume kicking your ass. Oh, but look!" Yami grinned. "I have no current monsters on the field. What a bugger for you! Now you can't use it, which means it goes straight to the Graveyard."

Bakura smirked. "No, Pharaoh, it doesn't. I can activate the hidden ability of this card to take a monster card from somewhere else. And you know what that means… I get a GOOOOOODD look at your hand." His eyes darkened. "Now show me."

Yami glared at him, before unleashing a deafening howl.

"BOLLUCKS!"

Yugi and Ryou

Ryou stared very oddly at Yugi.

"I take it Yami's not doing too well in his duel, then."

And if you had to leave, I wish that you would just leave, 'cause your presence still lingers here…

Yugi rolled his eyes. "I can tell. But Ryou? Have you ever gotten that feeling where… your yami is someplace else, but you can feel this really calm and relaxing feeling on your mind? I love that."

Ryou nodded and smiled.

"I know! It feels so warm and secure, doesn't it?" The snowy haired boy commented with a toss of his head. Then his attention wandered back to Yugi's problem, and decided to express his concern on it.

"But Yugi, if you keep things burdened inside of you for so long, then Yami will never be able to fulfil his duty to you as… well, a yami."

Yugi's broad smile faded, and he mentally flinched. 'I gotta tell him now… but what if he laughs and tells Yami? I'd never live with myself if he was so disgusted… and in front of Bakura, too.'

The diminutive Mutou lowered his gaze to the carpet, balling his hands into fists by his sides.

"Promise me you won't laugh?"

Ryou rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "Promise."

"Promise you won't tell Bakura?"

"Yugi, I won't tell anyone anything you don't want me to." Ryou said sincerely, shocking his friend at his loyalty. Yugi smiled gratefully, berating himself for his own foolishness.

Yami and Bakura

… And it won't leave me alone, these wounds won't seem to heal…

Bakura eyed the Game King through darkened, amused eyes. The look appeared, to Yami, rather evil in the dimming light, and the stare was only broken when Bakura turned to use his Shadow Magic to turn on the lights.

"You really should tell your hikari the truth, Pharaoh," Bakura at length stated, drawing a card directly from his deck and laying it down with a snap, "I am sure his reaction will be the one you desire."

Yami's eyes rose from his hand and he stared at the Tomb Robber in bewilderment… until logic kicked in.

He heaved a large, weary sigh. "How did you find out?" Yami asked, attacking the face down card with his Dark Magician Girl. Bakura's Acid Trap Hole activated, and Yami's card went to the Graveyard whilst Bakura considered the question.

"Well…" He said slowly, regarding each card in his hand with thought, "I guess it's obvious. Yugi's innocent enough to fall for even me. If I gave him the chance to get close enough. Which I wouldn't."

"But you would to Ryou, right?" Yami asked slyly, tactfully changing the victim.

Bakura's mouth twitched with an all too familiar insult, but he restrained himself at the last moment. Could he bring himself to admit to the Game King, his own adversary, that he wanted… loved… Ryou?

This pain is just too real…

Bakura responded with a small grin. "Why so hasty to change the spot light onto someone else, Pharaoh? I take it there is something you're trying to hide…"

"NO!" Yami denied, slapping down his Mystical Elf face down in defence mode. "And you didn't answer my question!"

"I'll only answer when I know you've told me your reply honestly!" Bakura snapped, drawing a card and losing three hundred life points when he attacked the Elf with a weaker monster.

Yami sighed, resignedly.

"Okay, so I feel something for Yugi, I-" Yami faltered when Bakura's eyes bore into his own, disbelievingly, "I… okay, I love him. Now YOU!" Yami added, pointing his finger at the muscular counterpart of Ryou sitting opposite him, "You gotta answer me now! Truthfully!"

Bakura gave him a shrug.

There's just too much that time cannot erase

"Firstly, why hide your feelings from Ryou?"

"Why do you hide your feelings from Yugi?"

Yami glared at Bakura darkly, finding himself trapped. "Bastard," He instead growled, then realised something. "Hold up… you didn't deny it… so that means you like Ryou!"

Bakura's face turned extremely sour, and then he sighed, passing his turn in their game.

"You're right… I love Ryou…" He mumbled, lowering his eyes to the floor, "And don't you DARE mock me for it."

For one moment, Yami's expression softened in pity for the Tomb Robber. "Bakura, I'll never tell Ryou anything without your word. However, if you tell Yugi anything I've said here tonight… then expect Ryou to ask you some awkward questions."

Bakura grinned and looked up. "Deal."

Ryou and Yugi

"WHAT?!" Ryou exclaimed, his eyes widening. Yugi sweat dropped.

"I haven't said anything yet…"

Ryou blushed… immensely.

"Fine, I'll give you that. I just really wanna know!"

Yugi shot him a dark, haunted look. "You probably won't when you hear it. Maybe you'll hate me for it, which is the reaction I expect from Yami…"

"Yugi, you gotta stop thinking like that. I'm your friend; I'd never hate you. Just as Yami would never leave you."

"Gomen nasai Ryou. I just can't think straight at the moment." Yugi apologised, feeling almost selfish. Ryou shook his head.

"No biggie. I'm not gonna push you into telling me, but… okay, just TELL ME!" Ryou cried, shaking his smaller friend's arm playfully.

Yugi sighed, knowing that Ryou wouldn't relent now that he'd been given the right fuel.

When you'd cry I'd wipe away all of your tears, when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

"Truth is…" Yugi said with a sigh, "I love my yami. He's always been there for me, ya know Ryou? He's wiped away my tears, and did whatever he could to get rid of all my fears. Please don't hate me." He whispered.

Ryou shot him a sad smile. "I can't hate you… because I'm gay too. I love Bakura."

Yugi smiled. "I know. Yami pointed out to me all the signs."

"Does that mean I've been obvious?" Ryou asked, panicky. Yugi quickly laid an assuring arm on Ryou's arm.

"No. I only noticed when Yami pointed it out to me, and he's very observant. You can't hide anything from him."

And I've held your hand through all of these years

"You did in the car…" Ryou muttered slyly, grinning evilly. Yugi arched an eyebrow.

"Oh…?"

"I said, you hid something in the car," Ryou said, slightly louder this time, gesturing to his friend's lower half. "Your boner."

Yugi blushed deeply.

But you still have… all of me

Bakura and Yami

"HAHAHA! FUCK YOU! YOUR LIFE POINTS HAVE JUST BEEN REDUCED TO ZERO!" Yami cheered, rising from the table and collecting all of his cards, "Now I'm going upstairs to see my hikari."

Bakura stood there, grabbing his cards with a dark scowl. His usually morbid look returned, then brightened when Yami mentioned the word 'hikari.' He could see Ryou again! And… tickle him again…

"Oi, dumbass!" Bakura yelled, yanking sharply on Yami's ankle by diving towards the bottom of the stairs. With a gasp, Yami plummeted to the floor, allowing Bakura to reach the upstairs sector first. Yami growled, and rose to his feet. He would get Bakura for that. Later.

And before Yami was even halfway through the door, he was knocked to the floor by a small, warm figure pouncing on his form. Yami rolled his eyes slightly and submitted to hugging his light back. He saw Bakura smirking at him evilly, before Yami lifted his middle finger from Yugi's back lazily.

"BAKURA!" Ryou screamed, twitching desperately underneath his yami, "STOP!"

Bakura had leapt on him, pinning him to the bed. With this done, he began to mercilessly tickle his young light…

Yami's koi: WOW, everyone knows who each other loves… apart from the actual person.

Bakura: the Pharaoh swore at me, mortal woman.

Yami's koi: I'm not a woman. I'm a teen girl who's only 13.

Yami: I beat Bakura! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's what happens when you interfere with my power! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Yugi: whispers to Ryou He's gone slightly mad, and -- pinned to wall by Pharaoh's hips I love that.

Yami's koi: o0 Okay… next chapter… will be more exciting than this. Longer too if you want. Plushie of Yugi to reviewers! Luvvies… o