Kat: Reminder of where we left off: But nobody came, and eventually I fell into a deep sleep riddled with bad dreams in which I was with Bakura . I would stretch out my hand to his but he would shake his head and move away, and as hard as I tried I couldn't reach him.

... change of scene or time

UPPERCASE change of perspective

italic ryou's thoughts

DISCLAIMER: no, I don't own Yu-gi-oh, nor am I making any proft from it. In case you were in any doubt.

Yami Kat: All right all right get on with the story already!

NORMAL P.O.V.

Bakura, meanwhile, was having a rare serious conversation with Malik. For once no smirk adorned his beautiful features and no sarcasm or laughter sounded in his tone. He had started talking almost as soon as Malik arrived home, in need of someone to share his concerns with. Marik was not yet home (likely out terrifying people), and Bakura had made Malik swear not to tell him anything. Malik was somewhat unsure about this side of Bakura, but trying his best to be helpful.

"I'm worried about him," Bakura's voice said.

"He'll be okay," Malik replied.

"He just seems so moody recently."

"PMS?" Malik offered wickedly.

Bakura was not amused. "Ha ha. You're just hilarious, you know that?."

"Like I said, he'll be ok, you'll see. Just...try to, I dunno, comfort him and stuff. He'll come around and be a bubbly little thing in no time, you'll see. Its probably just a phase."

Bakura sibsided, looking doubtful. He was not at all convinced that it was 'just a phase', but didn't want to disgree. After all, spending close to 5000 years trapped in a ring is not the best way to fine-tune your people skills.

Ryou woke the next morning feeling irritable and apathetic. He cracked open his eyes and saw early morning sunlight washing his room in warm yellow and pink through the windows, but rather than noticing the beauty as he would usually have done he merely felt angry. How could everything be so cheerful when he was feeling anything but? Another day, another disaster of avoiding people and facing disapointed teachers. He was going to be late for school, but for once he just...didn't care. Ryou yawned hugely and got up, noting that Bakura was still asleep. He had entered the bedroom long after Ryou was asleep, around four am, and was clearly paying for it.

Ryou padded over to his sleeping dark, trying to tread lightly. Bakura looked proud even in sleep, but far more relaxed than he ever did in life. He wasn't wearing a shirt, as it was nearly summer and the nights were warm, and one pale shoulder showed above the light blanket. His long silver hair spread around his face, framing it in wild splendor. The sunlight tinted his features with shades of pale rose. He was...stunning. But once again this just made Ryou feel more depressed. He shook his head and stretched out his hand to tap Bakura's shoulder and wake him for school.

The second he touched, Bakura's eyes flew open. In one swift movement he jumped up and pinned Ryou against the wall, feet almost off the ground.

Ryou's eyes were wide and frightened. Bakura wasn't usually physically violent towards him, but he was unpredictable. However, Bakura's actions had been instinctive and as soon as he realized where he was and who he was holding, he dropped Ryou as if burned. Suddenly he noticed he was clad in only pants, which didn't bother him but he knew it was strange for Ryou. He peered worriedly at his light, an unusual occurance in itself. Ryou made a strangled squeak.

"Hikari! I'm...sorry. I really didn't mean to...I didn't know it was you! Are you all right?" As Ryou still looked startled, Bakura hesitated, then proceeded to fold him into an awkward hug. "I really am sorry."

Ryou seemed to have recovered, but still didn't speak. His eyes had gone back to their earlier sad, glazed look. When Bakura stepped back, he simply said, "We're going to be late for school," and walked towards the kitchen.

Bakura stared after him, perplexed. Something was definitely wrong. Bakura was trying to be patient, trying to be there for his mild companion, but no matter what he did Ryou still seemed sad. In fact, he seemed dangerously depressed, as though he had ceased to enjoy anything. Bakura quirked an eyebrow. Whatever it was, it didn't look like Bakura could help. He sighed and began the process of getting ready for school.

RYOU'S P.O.V.

We were tardy, but not really late. Not late enough, in my opinion; I wish I could just skip the whole day. Before, I even looked forward to school, but now I can't really think of any activities I enjoy. If anything I just want to lock myself in a closet and sit there the rest of my life. Nothing is going right. Somewhere in my brain a voice was telling me that something was wrong, I was depressed, I needed to cheer up. However, I easily pushed the speaker aside and lost myself in lonliness and longing.The worst part is that I knew exactly what I wanted, knew what could make me feel happiness again...but Bakura was clearly oblivious. I sighed and leaned an elbow on the desk, propping myself up and gazing moodily out the window. Only first period. Surely the clock was moving too slowly? I moved through the day in a daze, listening to neither teachers nor concerned friends. I blocked them all out and retreated to the sanctuary of my brain.

Things used to be fun, I thought to myself as I walked towards my fifth period class, History. Now… I'm not so sure anymore. I feel so alone.

I heard Bakura's voice in my memory for the thousandth time that day. Aibou, what's going on? Something's bothering you. You haven't been acting like yourself lately...

You're right, I answered the memory, I haven't. And its because of you...

I entered the classroom and sighed heavily. Bakura also had fifth period History class. Every day was torture...he sat one row ahead of me. He always played around in History, but he never got caught. Today he was making paper airplanes and zooming them around when the teacher's back was turned. He did it the way he did everything: gracefully, mischeviously, with a sense of confidence. No matter what he does he looks good...

Angrily I turned away. Why was I always focusing on him? But I knew the answer, and my rage soon turned back into melancholy. At least there was only one period left until I could leave in peace...

Apparently Yugi, Yami, Jou, and Tea had other ideas for him.They cornered him just after school ended.

"Ryou," said Yugi carefully, "is there anything the matter?"

"Yeah, why are you avoidin' us? I thought we were your mates," added Jou. Tea shushed him reprovingly. It was clear she was about to launch off into a long speech about friendship, which I wasn't in the mood for at all.

"Nothing really." I replied defiantly, not quite sure why I was lying. Yami made a disbelieving sound. "I'm mean it! I'm just fine."

"Why do I have a feeling there's more going on here than you're letting on?" Yami asked. Yugi nodded his head. I just shook my hair in front of my eyes and turned away. I felt even worse than before.

"Wait," called Tea. "We're your friends, Ryou! We will always be here for you, even when you feel like the world's against you. Please stay with us!"

"I know how you feel!" I kept walking. Somehow Jou always manages to say the exact worst thing. I was now feeling at an all-time low, angry and distant. How could he presume to know how I felt!

For the first time I could remember, I didn't meet Bakura at his locker to walk home with him, but struck out home alone. Once I was home, I flung myself down on Bakura's bed without bothering to change or anything. Malik and Marik were home, but I didn't care. There was only one thing I cared about anymore.

I cried myself to sleep for the third night that week.

NORMAL P.O.V.

When school ended, Bakura waited for Ryou as usual, but he hadn't come. Bakura waited for twenty minutes, and then called to him mentally. However, he couldn't feel Ryou's mental imprint anywhere. He wasn't sure whether it was because Ryou was no longer at school or because the hikari had managed to block the link. Just to be on the safe side Bakura began to search the building. The only other time Ryou had not shown up, he'd been beaten up by some idiot in the bathroom. Suffice to say, once Bakura got ahold of him, the bully was never quite the same. The only thing that had stopped him from sending the boy to the Shadow Realm was Ryou's pleading. Bakura didn't really understand such compassion. After all, he had only recently even stopped his quest to get the Millennium Items. He still hated the Pharaoh's guts, but he had learned some measure of control.

This time Ryou was nowhere to be found, and Bakura was starting to get really worried as well as frustrated. He came to a decision. He would jog back to the house to look, and if Ryou wasn't there he would enlist the help of Marik and Malik, counting on Malik to keep Marik in check.

As he reached the house he saw that the light in the bedroom he and Ryou shared was on. Hope blossomed in his chest. He sprinted up the last few steps and wrentched the door open, not even bothering to shut it properly. When he careened into the bedroom he saw Ryou curled up on the wrong bed, looking sad even in sleep. He was wearing all his clothes from school. Bakura shook his head. He had been silly to get so worried. He must be getting soft. But he couldn't stop a grin of relief from stealing over his face as he changed into the clothes he slept in and climbed into his bed, trying hard not to wake up his sleeping light. The expression of grief on Ryou's face lessened somewhat though he didn't wake up.

The next morning Bakura woke early and slipped out of bed, but he couldn't help ruffling Ryou's hair, so similar to his own. Ryou looked angelic in the soft light, even features relaxed and calm. His shirt had ridden up as he slept and a crescent of flawless skin peeked out from under his shirt. Bakura admired the scene for a moment and then left him in peace.

By the time Ryou woke Bakura had already showered and was downstairs with Malik, and Ryou didn't even know that he had spent the night curled next to Bakura. All he knew was that he was still wearing his clothes from the day before and was on Bakura's bed. Miserably he wondered whether Bakura was annoyed and whether he should even bother getting up. Remebering his flight from his friends he flushed. Well, he thought morosely, at least today couldn't be any worse. Could it?

The day passed much like the day before, but this time Ryou didn't just avoid everyone; he hid. He didn't just not speak in class; he didn't pay the slightest attention. When the end of the day finally came he had sunk to new depths, feeling distant and vaguely betrayed, though by who he wasn't sure. Once again he walked home alone.

Marik and Malik were not home yet, but Ryou had ceased to notice. He stumbled blindly around the house, and finally his wandering brought him to the bathroom. Suddenly he realized he hadn't washed in three days. More out of habit than anything he started to run a bath, and partway through discovered a shard of glass lodged in between the wall and the cabinet.

He tugged it out, marveling at its sharpness as it drew a line of blood across his palm. The piercing pain was intruiging; here was a feeling he could control. He pulled the sliver across his arm, smiling unintentionally. Blood started to run down his hand, and he draped his arm over the tub, marveling at the beauty of the crimson meeting the water. The droplets fell quickly now, staining the water with menacing speed. Ryou's mind was mercifully blank of everything but this pain and this moment.

He slashed the other wrist, and moaned. He felt...odd...the world was...it was distorted, spinning...something was not right...

He passed out just as Bakura arrived home.

Kat: Ooh, its not going well at all for lil Ryou. I'm even depressing myself! But rest assured, it gets better. Critisisms, anyone? Pleease review and tell me what I can do better. Plus, the more reviews I get the more likely I am to keep writing and uploading!

Yami Kat: Now let's see if I can get another chapter done for tomorrow!