AN: Wah! I didn't realize that Friday was the next day! I think I posted this around midnight…so…um…close enough to Friday, right? Eheheh…

Thanks to…

Anime WarriorSkye: I hope this chapter is a little brighter than the last. I kind of like Seto Kaiba, so I didn't want him to be evilly wicked, or something. As for Marik, we both know…hehehe. Thanks for the review!

Shamise: No problem! Thanks for the review!

dragonlady222: Erk! Nyq better watch his back. As for the Pharaoh…I don't think Ryou would be strong enough to take his father's life. But we never know! Now that you mention it, there seems to be a LOT of kings that lose their throne due to assassinations. Hm…thanks for the review!

The Vampire Prince: I do, too! Yami and Yugi may or may not be in this story. I'm not so sure yet…still deciding. Thanks for the review, couz!

Chapter Six: Unexpected

Moonlight filtered in from the open balcony of the little prince's room, draping itself over the two sleeping forms. In the pale radiance, Ryou and Bakura's white hair shimmered as if it were sanctified.

The little prince was quietly snoring away, drained from the day and his daily hour routine of re-applying medicine and bandages to his patient. Right now was one of the few times he would get rest, and he was taking advantage of it.

The body beneath the covers of the bed stirred, and a soft groan escaped his lips. Bakura winced as his shoulder screamed in pain when he tried to move his left arm.

Shit…Bakura gritted his teeth. It…hurts…He glanced around the room, the first thing on his mind being escape. The patio caught his eye, along with the great tree that stood beside it. He could climb down and run for the city.

But not with an arm like this…It was then that Bakura noticed the child.

Slumped over on the side of the bed, sitting on a chair with his arms spread out as a pillow slept the little prince.

Looking at him, Bakura tried to feel contempt. Contempt for the suffering he went through, contempt for his current condition. But it didn't work. For some odd reason, Bakura felt no hatred toward the child next to him.

Propping himself into a sitting position, and trying not to scream whenever his left arm brushed the blankets, Bakura studied the little prince. He vaguely recalled what this child had done in the forge, but it was all in pieces. There were glitches here and there, and the only clear part he remembered was the prince crying.

He's shivering. Bakura hesitantly poked the child, hoping to wake him. The child didn't respond. The thief poked the child again, a little harder, waiting in anticipation for a bewildered response.

Still nothing. The thief heaved a sigh as his gaze swept the room again, this time searching. He couldn't find what he was looking for, so he slid out of the bed with great difficulty.

He was about to move the prince onto his proper resting area when his shoulder screamed in agony. Wincing, Bakura grabbed it, and quickly regretted his action. Blinded by the pain, he stumbled sideways, nearly knocking a lamp off of the bedside stand. Catching it with his right arm, Bakura righted it and took a few steps back…only to run right into another table. The lean and tall table was situated in front of the fire, and would've crashed straight into the ground had the thief not grabbed its edge and straightened it.

Letting out a gasp in pain, Bakura nearly fainted when nausea hit him. Barely standing now, Bakura was near the point of absolute frustration with Ra when the form of the little prince stirred.

Bakura froze, forcing back his exhaustion and pain to take on a composed stance. He wasn't sure why, but he stood quietly and still as the prince rubbed his eyes and stretched as if he were in a trance. Then, when the kid lurched to his feet, Bakura knew the child had seen the empty bed.

Ryou spun right around and came face to face with his thief.

It really surprised the thief when relief washed over the child's features.

"I thought brother took you away again…" Ryou murmured tiredly, his shoulders sagging.

Silently, Bakura shook his head. He frowned. The child looked like a haggard old man who had gone through a strenuous life, and that irked Bakura.

When the thief said nothing, and just warily stared at him, Ryou looked away, averting his gaze to his left. The thief looked okay, but…didn't Seto say to change his bandages every hour regardless?

Ryou timidly took a step toward the bedside stand and grabbed the balm. Then he walked up to Bakura, who immediately backed away.

The thief growled, his eyes flashing. "Don't touch me."

Speechless, Ryou withdrew his hand, feeling hurt by Bakura's outburst. "I…I need to change your bandages," he whispered, his cheeks burning.

Bakura blinked. Had he heard correctly?

Ryou gathered the courage to take another step toward the thief, and when Bakura made no move to evade him, the child gently reached for the bandage around the teen's midsection.

His hands slightly shook as he asked the thief to raise his arms. He had to unravel the bandage…

Bakura cautiously complied, and watched as Ryou took the old, dirty bandage off, applied some balm, and placed a new wrap on. The whole time, the prince was very close to the thief's battered body.

Ryou did this with Bakura's back, avoiding the left shoulder. Then when he finished, he reached for a water cloth, to cleanse the border of the metal plate.

"Could you, um…sit on the bed?" Ryou shyly asked. He pointed to Bakura's shoulder. "I have to clean that."

Bakura stared at the child again. When Ryou looked down, he stood where he was a little longer before deciding that an infected shoulder would hurt a hell of a lot more than what he felt now.

Somewhat grumpily, Bakura plopped himself down on the bed and turned his left side toward Ryou.

Ryou bit his lip in concentration as he slowly and carefully wiped the old medicine off. Bakura clenched his teeth against the pain and tried to think of something else as his left arm stung like crazy. It felt like something was so cold that it was hot.

"I'm done," a soft voice announced.

Bakura grunted, and pulled away from the child as he mentally strained the agony he was in to a minimum.

There was a small choking sound before a faint crying filled the room. Bakura slowly looked at the little child as he cried, hiccupping with his shoulders hunched and shaking.

The thief, not knowing what to do, hesitantly placed a hand on the child's head, and crouched to face him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

Lavender eyes widened as the child, with no warning, buried his face into the thief's right shoulder, still sobbing. Bakura's first reaction would have been pulling away, but then he had a second thought.

Uncertain that what he was doing was right or wrong, the teen wrapped his right arm around the child's small frame, and held him until the child ceased his crying.

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AN: So what'd you think? Am I dragging? Going too slow? Or is it fine? Argh, please review!