Results for next fic:

YGO/Hp 6

SJ, BR 3

Bakushipping 2

Gemshipping 1

Looks like we have a winner. There's still time to change the outcome though.

Over 50 reviews. You don't know how loved I feel. Anyway as I've told you before this is the last chapter and next is the epilogue.

Now Enjoy!


Chapter 10

Ryou and Bakura jerked round to see who was shouting. They had been so focused on each other that they hadn't seen or heard the person come down the dark steps.

King Yami stared at his brother. "What in hell's name are you doing down here!"

Ryou didn't answer; he was still stunned by his brother's sudden appearance.

"I can't believe this! I told you to stay in your room but do you listen? I told you that he was a thief and a murderer but you still disobey my orders and come down here! I can't believe you'd be so foolish! He's just using you!"

"No he's not!" Ryou shouted back. "He loves me and cares for me; which is more than you do!" Yami looked taken aback by this. "You're not treating me like a brother; you're treating me like a little kid! Did you ever consider my feelings about all of this? Bakura loves me and would never hurt me!"

Yami shook his head. "You don't know what you're talking about Ryou. He's just acting like he cares when he doesn't. It may seem like I don't care but I know what's best for you and sometimes you have to be unkind to protect the people you care for."

Ryou was about to reply to this when Bakura put a hand over his wrist. "It's no use – he won't change his opinion of me. He's too blind to see the truth or look for goodness and reason in someone who's a 'criminal'".

"I am not blind!" Yami shouted indignantly.

Bakura turned to him, malice in his eyes. "Do you mind? Ryou and I are talking."

Yami made an indignant and offended noise but stayed silent.

Bakura turned back to Ryou and continued. "Like I was saying; he's not going to change his opinion of me just like that. It'll be a real blow dying like this instead of putting up a fight first but I'll deal with it.

"But promise me one thing Ryou: don't be too depressed. I don't want to meet you in the afterlife for at least fifty years. I want you to be happy even though I'm gone. Don't let me be the one who ruined your life. I love you and I'll never stop loving you. So be happy or I'll come back and haunt you."

Ryou, tears in his eyes, buried his face in the crook of Bakura's neck. "I promise I'll try to be happy…for you."

Bakura rubbed the boy's back and whispered soothing words. Yami watched all of this quietly. The thief was either an excellent actor or he really did care about Ryou.

Bakura looked up and met Yami's eyes. The thief was trying to put on a brave face for Ryou but in his eyes the king could see fear, worry, and most of all sadness.

"And you – you better start giving him some freedom and let him make his own decisions about who he wants to associate with or I'll come back and haunt you too. Only this time I'll be a vengeful spirit," Bakura said coldly.

Yami bit his lip and looked away. He was having conflicting thoughts about this. "Ryou's betrothed you know. It might be considered kinder to have the one you like gone from your life so that you're not always comparing this life to the one you could have had." Yami deliberately hadn't said 'love'.

Ryou looked up from Bakura's shoulder and asked tearfully, "Then why do you still keep Yugi around?"

Yami froze and turned, horrified, to look at his brother, stuttering wildly. "That's different," he was finally able to get out.

"Why? You're also betrothed and royalty isn't supposed to fall in love with the servants as much as they're not supposed to fall in love peasants. So why is it different?" Ryou asked, his tears starting to dry.

"B-b-because he's a criminal!" Yami stuttered, his face a lovely shade of red.

Ryou rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and fixed his brother with the best glare he could muster. "If I can't be with Bakura then you can't be with Yugi." He then emphasized his statement by crossing his arms in a manner that said 'and that's final'.

Yami agitatedly ran his hand through his hair. "But what about our betrothals? The people wouldn't be happy if we married commoners," in a lower voice he added, "of the same gender."

Bakura smirked. "Why not get married and do all the courtly stuff with your wife but then do all the romance stuff with your boy toy in secret."

Ryou playfully hit his shoulder. Yami shook his head. "You've never met Lady Anzu – she would never let me have an affair with someone."

"Then dump the bitch and marry the one betrothed to Ryou. From what I've heard she'd be kept amused with picking out new outfits that she wants and would think your secret love affair was cool and kinky."

Yami stopped and thought. That didn't actually sound like a bad idea. Mai wouldn't be fussed that he didn't actually love her and Ryou didn't actually need to marry anyone. "That's a good idea but I can't just let you get off scot-free, thief. You still should be punished for your crimes."

Ryou quickly interjected. "He could do community service and I could be in-charge of supervising him."

Yami nodded. This was also a good idea and one that would suit everyone. He sighed the said, "I guess I've got no choice."

"Damn straight!"

Bakura promptly received an elbowing from Ryou and a whispered, "Don't make him mad or he'll change his mind."

Yami walked through the open cell door and handed a set of keys to Ryou so that he could unchain Bakura. When this was done all three were about to leave when they were stopped by Marik shouting, "Aren't you forgetting something!"


None of you really expected me to kill Bakura did you? I would never do something like that to poor Bakura-chan unless it was really necessary to the plot. Plus, if he'd died that would've made Ryou-chan unhappy and he doesn't deserve to be unhappy.

Now all you have to look forward to is Yami's wedding and the after party.

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