-runs in looking harrased- Over the weekend. HA.

-cough-

Sorry. My excuse? SCHOOLWORK! It never fails. xD What? I'm taking a hard-ass english class. xD I get too much homework.. -wails- Well... I apologize for teh lateness, and teh crappyness. At least it's a bit longer than the last one...

Disclaimer: I own nothing. xD Okay? But man, I WISH I owned a solid-silver open-hole flute... -dribbles-

Ryou moaned slightly, blinking away the crusty sleep forming at the corner of his eyes, nuzzling his head deeper into the pillow. The young light sighed, the arms flung around his stomach warm and comforting. He blinked, rubbing at his eyes as he felt the arm around his stomach slacken. At the movement, Ryou froze, his eyes widening in shock as his sleepy mind began to fully register the situation he was in. He was... in the bed? What's going on? The light panicked, his breath quickening considerably in velocity as he anxiously twisted his head around, looking for the yami.

"Relax." The harsh, rough voice of Bakura almost seemed to soothe him, the cold fingers gently combing through his hair. The light gasped, but obeyed the spirits command, his muscles going lax under Bakura's hold. "Good boy." The yami smiled, continued to gently pet Ryou's pearly strands of hair. Ryou said nothing, a small frown creasing his forehead as he gazed at the ceiling. I'm still getting to grips about what happened last night. He mused, his eyelids gently lowering shut. I can't even remember half of it...

"Did you mean it?" Ryou asked gently, in his gentle, lilting voice, his lips parted ever-so-slightly in a way that made the yami want to... do things. "Do... Do you l-love me?" The words still sounded strange, it still felt strange to think that Bakura might feel that way about him...

"Yes." Bakura growled. "Yes." He repeated in a softer, calmer tone, forcing the anger out of his voice as he continued to lazily twirl a lock of Ryou's stunningly silver locks around one finger. "I do mean it. There's just... There's something about you, Ryou..." Bakura sighed, freeing his fingers from the lights hair. "I can't explain it. But just trust me. For once in your goddamn life, just trust me." Ryou sighed, his eyes fluttering open.

"It's a big ask." He murmured gently, his warm chocolate eyes downcast. "There's just too much mistrust from over the years. I still don't understand why you're doing this..." Bakura inwardly growled, his eyes narrowing. Shit. I can't do this if he doesn't trust me...

"Ryou." The spirit forced his voice to sound soft, gentle, as he ran a finger over the younger whitenette's soft cheek. "I'm sorry." Ryou frowned. "I really am. It's just... I know there's nothing at all I can say that would ever justify what I've done to you. But..." Bakura sighed, flopping back down on the pillow. "I don't want to mess things up with you anymore. You have to believe me, I love you. I always have, but I just don't know how to express myself... Please, Ryou, you've got to believe me..."

The light was torn. It just... It didn't seem right. Was Bakura lying, was he messing with his head? Was he telling the truth?

"I-I..." Ryou stammered, opening his mouth to say "No, Bakura, I don't believe you. Go away, and leave me alone." But somehow... That really wasn't a good idea. No one knew the full extent of Bakura's explosive rage and creative sadism more than Ryou, and he didn't want to risk it. Not a good idea to go against what he was going to say...

"I love you too." At least that was the truth, Ryou mused as he stretched slightly, biting his lower lip gently. "I be-believe you. I-I suppose I can trust you." He continued silently, his eyes cast downwards. Bakura smiled, a small, personal, secret smile, his arms snaking tightly around Ryou's waist as he pulled the lights slender frame closer to him.

"Thank you." He breathed into soft white hair, his eyes closing for a moment. "I knew you could trust me." Ryou couldn't help but smile, gently leaning into the demons touch. This felt nice, better even, than he dreamed it would. What if Bakura was right for once? What if he really meant it? What if they were in love?

Ryou smiled, humming a gentle tune in his throat as he almost skipped on the way to his locker. Last class of the day. Finally! All day, Ryou had been hurrying his way through his classes, keeping a watchful eye on the clock. He was sure that on occasion it had stopped, but he was just so impatient! He couldn't wait to get home that afternoon, something that hadn't occurred in a very, very long time.

"Bakura?" Ryou turned at the soft, timid voice, his small smile widening at the confusion in Yugi's eyes. "A-are you feeling... Better today?" He inquired carefully, trying to phrase his words correctly. Ryou chuckled in his throat, nodding as he brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes.

"Yes." He affirmed, a small blush spreading across his face. "Much, much better thanks. Everything's perfect, I..." Ryou trailed off, smiling. "Yugi... do you remember everything I told you?" He asked, biting his lower lip slightly.

"Yes..." Yugi said carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. What's going on...

"Well, forget it!" Ryou giggled slightly, leaning against the metal door of his locker. "Forget everything I said. It doesn't matter anymore. None of it."

"Wh-What?" Yugi stammered, his maroon eyes widening further. "Y-You... Oh man... He must have done something..."

"No!" Ryou retorted, his eyes pleading. "He hasn't done a thing... Yugi... He said he loves me." Blushing even deeper, the light smiled faintly as he lowered his gaze to the floor, wringing his hands together faintly.

"He's lying." Yugi said flatly, a look of disbelief on his face as he frowned at the whitenette. "He can't mean it." Ryou sighed, biting his lip as he closed his eyes momentarily.

"I-I know." Ryou breathed softly. "I-I thought it too... But, I've been thinking about what he said to me, and I... I think he might be telling the truth. I know it's hard to explain, and it wouldn't make sense, but..."

"I understand." Yugi said softly, a strange look on his face that Ryou had never seen before. "When I first put the puzzle together, Yami was... violent. If you remember." Ryou nodded, biting softly on his lower lip. "He was even..."

"Abusive?" Ryou suggested gently, tilting his head to the side. Yugi shook his head, a look of deep thought still on his face.

"No... I wouldn't say that... I just... I was... careful around him." Yugi concluded. "I was scared, and it was so strange, it went beyond ordinary fear." The light broke into a smile. "But when I realized he wasn't dangerous..." Yugi trailed off, rubbing at the back of his head slightly. "Yeah." Both teens winced as the bell clanged noisily above them. "Shoot."

"Yeah, we really have to go." Ryou smiled softly. "Listen... I'll call you sometime, tonight or tomorrow, or something. It is a lot better to talk." Both of the teens began walking towards the Chemistry class they had together. "And it's not like I can talk to Malik about it. Whenever I even mention my yami, he just goes all gooey-eyed and starts blubbering about how one of these days he's going to work up the nerve to ask him out.

Malik has such a crush on him."

"Yami? Are you home?" Ryou closed the door behind him, a wide smile on his ivory face as he glanced eagerly around for the demon. "I've been looking forward to seeing you again all day." Bakura smiled, sprawled out on the couch as he heard the gentle light come home. "Yami? Wh-where are you?" A small frown formed on his face. "I- Oh!" Ryou broke into a wide smile, his chocolate eyes lighting up. "Have you been there all day?"

"Pretty much." Bakura lied, sifting over slightly so Ryou could take a seat on the modest two-seater. "Been a slow day." Damn, was he good at fibbing, or what? "What about you?"

"Boring." Ryou leaned appreciatively into the pair of arms Bakura offered, sighing contently. "I really only spent the day waiting to come home... But oh, in Chemistry, I was paired up with Jounouchi, and it was a total disaster." Bakura rolled his eyes heavenwards as the young light continued to ramble on about his day, tuning out his gently voice. Why do I even put up with this, he's worse than a woman...

"You okay?" Ryou paused in his ramblings, a small frown creasing his brow as he gazed at the yami. "You seem quiet." Bakura sighed.

"Just thinking." Bakura muttered, a scowl on his face, looking deep in thought. Ryou smiled, gently nuzzling his head into the pale demon shoulder.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Ryou grinned, his eyes wide in innocence. Bakura snorted, a smirk on his face as he twirled a few strands of hair in his long pale fingers.

"You." The spirit said softly, his eyes looking strangely calm. "Just... you." Ryou blushed deeply, his smile widening.

"Oh Bakura..."

Ryou shivered slightly, goosebumps running along his chilled arms as he bent down to remove his socks, discarding them beside his shirt as he prepared for bed. Bakura was lying in the bed already, the blankets around his waist as he gazed at the ceiling and waited for the Briton to finish undressing.

"What's taking you so long?" the demon muttered irritably, scowling at the shifting patterns of artificial light that filtered from the busy street below. "Man..." Ryou giggled, sliding the jeans off of his slim hips, crawling back up the bed to meet the yami.

"Why so impatient?" Ryou giggled, stretching out beside Bakura with his head on the pillow, his eyes locked with the yamis red-brown eyes.

"Because." Bakura smirked, "I wanted to do... This..." Ryou gasped as the spirit pressed his lips firmly on the lights, his tongue demanding entrance. Ryou moaned, opening his mouth to allow intrusion from the demon. It still felt unreal, to be touched, to be kissed by Bakura, to be looked at in a totally different light, to not be seen as a pathetic loser.

"W-Wow..." Ryou sighed as they broke apart, his chest heaving for breath as he gently closed his eyes. "You're just so amazing..." Bakura said nothing, gazing rather thoughtfully into wide mocha eyes. "I love you so much..."

"I love you too." The demons words were harsh, but had genuine feeling, causing the light to blush and giggle slightly, his smile wider than ever. Bakura smiled, one hand gently stroking the lights soft hair. Raising on to all fours, the spirit gazed at Ryou oddly as his lithe, pale fingers began to gently snake along the lights bare stomach. He gasped, arching his back as Bakura continued to lightly run his digits along the silky porcelain skin. The demon grinned, abruptly digging his fingers into the lights ribs.

Ryou screamed, gasping for breath as he squirmed underneath the yami, his face bright red as he struggled to contain his giggles. Bakura smiled, straddling the lights slim form as he continued his ministrations, Ryou on the brink of tears.

"St-st-stopp!" Ryou screamed, arching his back off the bed as he squirmed weakly underneath the demon. "P-P-Please..."

"No." Bakura muttered smugly, a twisted smile on his face as he tickled the lights armpits. Ryou screamed, his face flushed scarlet as he writhed underneath the spirit weakly, gasping for breath between screams and giggles.

"P-Please..." Ryou stuttered, his body wracked with silent giggles. "P-Please yami..." Bakura smirked, one hand running over the lights cheekbones, the other still skittering around his sensitive sides. "I-I'll do anything..." He pleaded, giggling and managing to look doleful at the same time. Bakura sighed, removing his hands from Ryou's body, who sighed in relief, twisting to free himself from under the demon.

"Hey." Bakura raised an eyebrow, pinning Ryou back down on the bed via the arms. "Where do you think you're going?" The light squeaked, eyes wide in fear at the demon leering over him. Oh Jesus... I must have made him angry, Oh man... Bakura snorted. "Idiot." Relaxing his hold on Ryou, he gazed thoughtfully down for a moment, his eyes focused on the wide chocolate orbs beneath him. "I'm not going to hurt you, Ryou. Goddamn it..."

"Sorry..." Ryou's eyes were downcast, his chin trembling slightly. Bakura groaned to himself, running a hand almost despairingly through his wild mane of silver locks.

"Don't be sorry." Bakura muttered, still leaning over the light. "You didn't do anything." Leaning down, the yami rested his lips on Ryou for a moment, their foreheads touching. "I didn't mean to scare you." Rolling off the young light and onto his back, Bakura sighed, gazing vacantly at the ceiling. Ryou smiled, his brow sweaty and breath heaving. Almost automatically, the demon drew the light to him, pulling Ryou close to his chest. He smiled, digging his forehead into Bakura's shoulder.

"Truce." Ryou smiled, his arms snaking around the yamis waist. "'Kay?" Bakura smiled in the dark, and nodded, encircling the delicate frame of the teenager in a warm embrace.

"Truce." Bakura muttered, gazing back down to Ryou for a moment, before his gaze flicked back up to the ceiling, the breeze playing lightly on his hair. Ryou shivered, digging his head further into Bakura's shoulder. "Cold?" He was a real pro at these one-word sentences, Ryou groaned inwardly. I need to expand on his vocabulary. Nodding, the light sighed, his smile widening as the yami pulled a blanket over his trembling form.

"Night yami." Ryou yawned, his leg subconsciously curling around Bakura's. The demon stiffened for a moment, before relaxing, twirling a few strands of hair between his fingers.

"Night Ryou."

It was around 3AM when Bakura slid himself neatly out of bed, his face unreadable as he almost mechanically tugged on a pair of black leather pants and a shirt, sliding a pair of gloves and a balaclava in the back pocket of his large ebony trench coat. Sitting on the bed to lace up his boots, the yami frowned, a soft sigh emitting from his lips as he gazed at the light, sleeping soundly, innocently, curled under the blankets. He smiled, almost, one hand brushing at the white bangs, wavering slightly in the late-late night breeze. Bakura was as silent as a cat as he made his way out of the room, a small smirk on his face. Oh how he loved this.

"Stay there, Ryou." The yami breathed, his smile widening. "I'll bring you back something nice."

Ryou moaned softly, lifting his head from the pillow the next morning, as a few beams of sunlight scattered over his face. His vision blurred a moment, but then cleared, a wide smile spreading across his face at the yami, sprawled across the bed, a strange smile on his face.

"Sleep well?" He asked softly, an unknown look in his eyes. Ryou nodded, smiling as he leaned over to give the demon a soft kiss. "I have something for you." Bakura leaned over the side of the bed, withdrawing a large black case. "I guess it's a... sorry gift." Ryou frowned, sitting up in bed as Bakura placed the large case in his lap. "I-I..." The yami sighed. "Yeah. Open it!" Ryou grinned at the almost childish look in his eyes.

"You look like a kid on Chri- Oh yami..." Ryou gasped, his chocolate eyes wider than saucers at the beautiful flute that lay packed amongst the royal blue velvet. "It looks..." The light lifted the mouth piece with a trembling hand. "It's silver.. Not even silver plated, it's solid silver..." Ryou looked at the yami wordlessly. "A solid silver open-hole flute... They cost thousands!" A smile finally formed on the lights porcelain face, as he tightly gripped Bakura in a bone-crunching hug. "How did you know." Ryou whispered, tears pushing at his eyes. "How could you possibly know?" Bakura smiled softly, a vacant look in his eyes. How could he not know what haunted Ryou's memories? Although he hadn't picked up the flute in years, Ryou could still play expertly. It was sad, to think that the light hadn't touched it in so long, but it was never too late to restart. He'd be good enough to join the school orchestra.

"Why don't you ever play anymore?" Bakura whispered, brushing a lock of hair out of the lights eyes, his chin trembling. "You used to be so good..." Ryou sighed, sniffling slightly.

"It still really hurts... I-it was M-Mum who taught me... It just reminds me so much of her..." Ryou bowed his head, a silvery curtain concealing his face for a moment, like a white shroud of mourning.

"I-I'm sorry." Bakura didn't know what else to say, as he sat there rather awkwardly, one hand clasped with Ryou's. The light was silent for a long time, before sniffing once, and lifting his head.

"It's okay." He whispered softly. "It wasn't your fault." Inwardly, Bakura winced, blocking out the nasty thoughts in the corner of his mind. "And anyway..." At this, Ryou's tone turned slightly accusing. "You didn't pay for this, did you?" Bakura bit his lip, a small flush on his bone-white face.

"I did." He said, struggling to keep a straight face. "Fare and square." Ryou looked satisfied. "With money I stole."

"Yami!" Ryou pouted cutely, a glare on his face. "That's not right, you know much I hate it when you steal..."

"Fine." Bakura smirked, closing the case shut and hoisting it in his arms. "I guess if you don't want it, I could always return it, or something-"

"Yami!" Ryou giggled, his tone changing to that of amusement. "Don't do that, it's beautiful, it's the best flute I've ever seen. I just don't like you stealing." Bakura smirked, sitting back down on the bed.

"Well, Ryou, I'm sorry you feel that way." He smiled, giving Ryou a quick hug. "But I can't help it. Just like how you can't help being naïve." Ryou pouted. "Do you like it, anyways?" Ryou grinned widely, tightly hugging the yami.

"I love it." The lights voice was trembling. "I love it I love it I love it."

"Are you going to use it?" Bakura smiled, his red-brown orbs gazing into warm pools of chocolate. Ryou nodded, nuzzling at the yamis neck.

"Yes. Of course. And I'll think of you every time I play it." Ryou breathed, his eyes warm.

Bakura smiled. Good going there. You've got him for sure. He'll do anything you say now. He trusts you.

Perfect.

Hmm.

I guess I like it... I decided to make Ryou musically skilled. And basically, I had a choice between violin, piano, and flute, as they are the most popular (and I can play them decently.) Violin has sort of been taken by AphroditeLove, and there's no WAY Bakura could lug a piano across town... so, Flute it was! It suits him... o.o' Yes...

R&R peoples! And I might update quicker. But at least teh chapters are quite long...