Disclaimer. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Yami groaned, turning over in his sleep. Something felt different. He slowly peeled his eyes open, sitting up quickly as unfamiliar walls surrounded him. He was laying on a crisp white bed, with a curtain shielding him from view. The beeping had been a life machine. A cord stretched from it and was attached to his arm in the form of a needle.

He frowned at it, fighting the urge to rip it off. He tried to see through the curtains but to no avail. Not even a shadow. 'This must be the hospital. What happened after I passed out?'

He froze with sudden realization. 'Jonouchi! Yugi!'

Quickly he tried reaching along the lines of the link he shared with Yugi. There was an instant reaction. /Nissan! You're okay!/

Yami smiled with relief. /Yes I'm fine./

Yugi appeared beside him, floating and transparent. He stared at him wide eyed. /Where's Jonouchi?/

Yami lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I don't know...if only I could move. But I don't want to cause harm to your body if I take the needle out."

Yugi cringed. "Ugh. Needles."

Yami smiled thinly, before glancing at the curtains as they slid open, and nurse walking in. Yugi faded away. The nurse was a short elderly lady with a kind face and thick glasses. She checked the life machine, then fiddled with the needle. Yami flinched as it stung, but didn't protest.

The nurse checked her clipboard. "Well Yugi, it seems you have fully recovered. But I can't say the same for your friend Jonouchi. He's in a stable condition but he hasn't woken up."

Yami clenched his hands on the bedsheet, crumpling it. "Is he in a coma?"

The nurse shook her head. "No. Don't worry dear. I'm sure he'll be awake before you know it."

Yami was relieved, and moved on to his next question. "How did you know our names?"

The kind old nurse peered at him through thick rimmed glasses. "You're grandfather came in last night. He was very worried you know. He's in the lobby. Should I get him for you?"

Yami sat up straight. "Yes please." She nodded and left, leaving the curtains open.

Yugi whispered through the link. /Please switch with me! I want to see him!/ Yami complied without a word, sinking into the deep recesses of the puzzle. The door opened and Sugouroku rushed in, smothering Yugi with hugs.

Yugi laughed. "I can't breathe Jiichan!"

Sugouroku unlatched himself from his grandson. "I'm so glad you're okay! I just wish the same for Jonouchi."

Yugi's cheerfulness quickly died down. "Do you know which room he's in?"

Sugouroku jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at the door. "He's in a room three doors down from here."

Yugi swung his legs over the bed, shaking as he stood up. Sugouroku laid a hand on his shoulder. "Woah there. Let's not get too hasty."

Yugi shook his head defiantly. "No. I have to make sure he's okay."

He grasped the needle that was still in his arm and pulled it out, wincing. Sugouroku paled when he saw the rough treatment of the needle. But he remained quiet as his grandson stubbornly and slowly made his way towards the door.

Yugi could vaguely sense the presence of his other, wrapping his arms over Yugi's shoulders so he wouldn't fall. Thankful, he continued his agonizingly slow pace towards the room that Jonouchi had been placed in. Reaching the correct door, he took ahold of the door knob and turned it, pushing open the door. Yami clenched his hands, startling Yugi.

Bakura was kneeling by Jonouchi's bedside, his eyes scrunched shut in desperate prayer.

Not knowing which Bakura was there at the moment, Yami took control of Yugi's body. Yugi gasped, but otherwise remained silent.

Yami bounded over to Bakura, grabbing him. "What do you think you're doing?!" He hissed.

Bakura put his hands up in defense. "Wait! It's just me!"

Yami backed off, his anger fading. Bakura refused to look at him. "I'm so sorry for what happened...because of me..."

Yami cut him off. "It's not your fault Bakura...it's..."

He paused, face contorted in conflicting emotions. He pointed to the ancient artifact around Bakura's neck. "It's that thing's fault." He finished.

Bakura bit his lip. "Right..." He tightly grasped the millennium ring, the pointers clanking against each other. He hid it behind his shirt, out of sight.

A movement from the bed immediately caught both their attention. Yami was instantly by Jonouchi's bedside, as was Bakura but he hung back a bit, afraid Yami would snap at him again for being too close. Yami slipped his hand into Jonouchi's, squeezing it.

"Jonouchi?" He whispered hopefully.

A low groan was emitted from the blonde. Heavy sleep filled eyes slowly lifted from the bed to Yami's face. "Y-Yugi?"

Yugi separated from Yami still invisible to everyone but Yami but he didn't care. He collapsed by the bed, laying his head by Jonouchi's. "You're back!" He cried.

Not caring that Jonouchi at the moment couldn't hear him. "I've barely known you for long but I'm so glad you haven't died! So glad!"

He broke into tears, shoulders shaking as he let his emotions out. Yami watched him, emotions flickering across his calm face. 'Yugi...'

Bakura looked equally relieved. 'I'm glad too...I don't think I can bear another death by my hands.'

A deep and serious chuckle ecohed next to his ear. /But my little host. The game has just begun!/