AN: Okay, so I tried to update sooner but the Document Setting thingy was down…and it wouldn't take my chapter! I was kind of irritated… but it's all good. I eventually got it up (if you ever read this, that is).

Thanks to…

dragonlady222: Yeah, me too! I hope that everything turns out okay. Thanks for the review!

Anei Aikouka: I'm glad that cleared up, and I'm glad you liked the way Bakura made his decision! I hope you like the next chapter…it's…more to wrap up some loose strands, and sort of set the stage for 12. Thanks for the review!

Anime WarriorSkye: lol. Okay, cool. Thanks for the review!

The Vampire Prince: I understand where you're coming from. It is a bit sad, seeing him so…vengeful? Well, thanks for the review!

Carmen-Nemrac: I'm good, thanks for asking! I'm glad you left a review, no matter when. I'm really happy that you enjoyed it! I hope you'll like this one, too. Thanks for the review!

Chapter Eleven: Being Alone

For the first time in his life, Ryou was invisible. People, soldiers and medics, ran through his room without even seeing him. Shouts, commands, and orders were given as the child shank deeper into the shadows. No one bowed to him, no one acknowledged him. If someone did meet his eyes, they gave him a dead stare before hurrying about their task. So many people were concerned over the well-being of the Captain. Ryou wanted, so badly, to ask how he was, to ask if he was okay, to ask if he could help.

The only thing that prevented him from doing this was the presence of the Pharaoh. He knew if he interacted with the 'common' people, his father would be infuriated. Watching him now as he stood tall in the room with a cold glare at anyone who came within a few feet of him, Ryou was ashamed of the fact that this heartless man was his father.

As young as he was, the prince knew that most of the soldiers and all of the slaves knew the cruelty of the Pharaoh. Most of them had followed their deceased parents steps, or had lost many friends and family to that golden self-proclaimed god that stood there. Ryou knew that no one cared for that man. He had tried to care, to love this callous man as his father. He had lied to himself, he had pushed himself to please this man, he had done everything in his power.

Not once had the Pharaoh displayed any emotions portraying love to the child. Not once had the Pharaoh held the child like a father should have. Not once had the Pharaoh told his son how proud he was of him.

What hurt Ryou the most was knowing that no one loved his father. He even pitied him. No one would care if the Pharaoh were to disappear.

With hollow eyes, Ryou watched Marik as he was carried out. Bakura was kept in his room and left untouched, being that he was the little prince's slave.

Ryou stumbled over to Bakura, remembering the thief was hurt as well. However, Bakura was too big to move by himself, so Ryou turned to ask a slave for help.

No one remained in his room.

Slowly, a small hand curled itself into a fist as chocolate eyes fought tears.

Would anyone care if I were to disappear?

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Ryou's Room, a few hours later…
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When he woke up, it was the first time in a while that his arm was not burning as if acid was eating away at it. However, bruises and soreness in other locations of his body compensated for the fire's absence.

Bakura would have let a groan out, but he fought it down grimly as he recalled the break in. He tried to sit up, but it was a slow struggle, like he was scaling a great hill. He had to know if Ryou and Marik were okay.

Again, he was in a comfy bed, the bed of the little prince.

A light snoring caught his attention. On his right side, a chair pulled close, sat the little prince. His head was resting on the bed, propped up by his arms. The way his back arched forward told Bakura that Ryou had been sitting next to him for quite some time.

The thief couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of the boy. Then he craned his neck back and stared at the ceiling, his arms spread out behind him, trying to collect his thoughts.

He couldn't just leave now, not after he had seen that spark of…something in the little prince's eyes.

The scene replayed in his mind, him stroking the child's bruised neck with actual concern while asking him if he was alright. Those chocolate eyes had held a stunned, and sort of…happy?

"Argh…" Bakura roughly scratched his head, baffled. Why the heck was all this happening to him? And now of all times? Just when his life, before being caught as a slave, was going considerably well?

As if, a thought threw back. You want to live in that little dingy hole that Ari and the gang had to offer? You want to steal from who people tell you to, and when?

"Bakura?"

The drowsy voice made Bakura lurch forward. The thief scowled, turning his gaze to Ryou.

"What?" he gruffly asked.

Ryou blinked twice. It kind of irked Bakura how a flicker of pain ran through the child's eyes at his single word. By now, the kid should be used to his demeanor, right?

The child let out a sigh, stretching a little. "How are you?" he asked somewhat hazily, still fighting off sleep.

"How's Marik?"

Ryou looked down at his lap, his shoulders sinking so suddenly that Bakura nearly regretted his careless question. "He's…He'll live."

Mutely, Bakura nodded. Then he couldn't help but ask, "Where is he now?"

"Infirmary wing," the child murmured sadly. "I want to see him, but they won't let me."

"Why don't you make them let you see him?"

This time, Bakura not only regretted his question, but wanted to ram his head through a brick wall, due to the prince's reaction.

Ryou was crying.

Feeling a little awkward, Bakura tried to ignore the fact that the prince was breaking down. He was quiet as he heard the sniffling of the child, who was trying really hard to bite back the tears.

It wasn't very long before Bakura glanced over at the hunched form of the prince again, and slowly placed a hand on the child's head.

The prince had his eyes closed, and it was obvious that he was trying to stop the crying. Bakura swallowed hard, and did something that he never would have done two weeks ago. He reached over to Ryou and hauled the child onto the bed.

"What's wrong, Ryou?" he asked softly, hesitant as he placed his arms somewhat protectively around the boy's shoulders.

There was no response for a while as the prince cried into Bakura's shirt, being unconsciously careful to avoid Bakura's left shoulder.

"I…it's my fault that Marik's hurt, isn't it?" It was more like a statement than a question, the way Ryou said it. "And the reason your arm hurts all the time, that my fault to, huh? You hate me, don't you? I bet if I died, no one would come to see my funeral."

Bakura tore the child away from him, glaring at him. "What is wrong with you?" Bakura muttered, feeling as if a hand had just crushed his chest. "Why are you so depressed? This stupid metal plate on my shoulder isn't even close to being your fault! And if you have to blame someone for Marik getting stabbed, it's my fault. I should have done something about it, since I knew it was going to happen. And I don't hate you, why would I hate you?! What have you done to make me hate you? And why the heck would you die?"

At the end of his rant, Bakura realized his grip on the child's arms was kind of getting hard, so he immediately let go. He looked away, shaking his head, not believing what the child had said, and mostly, incredulous of his reaction to what was said.

Ryou was sniffling now, sitting on his knees while holding one arm with the other. Knowing he sounded like a child, but not understanding why he was wrong, Ryou reasoned, "I don't want to be alone…like father…"

Bakura was about to throw another fit, but he shoved out the roaring typhoon in his mind and said, through clenched teeth, "I'm right here, aren't I? Marik will be here, won't he? Honestly, who else do you need?" Bakura asked, exasperated.

Ryou let out a small laugh, wiping away his tears and feeling much better. He hiccupped a few times before reaching a calm state, in reach exhaustion ran over him like a great wave.

Strong arms tucked him into bed, and a hand stayed in his to reassure him that someone was there. The little prince started to doze off when he remembered something.

"Bakura?"

"If it's more about how pitiful you feel, I don't want to hear it. You know, and I know, that it's not true."

"No, it's not that. Kura…thank you…for staying."

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AN: Ah, I had to wrap up the loose emotional filaments. Couldn't have them floating around forever. I think I did pretty well…please review! I hope to have the next chapter up by…hm, well, it was originally going to be Monday, but I don't have time to revise and edit, so let's say…Wednesday? Tuesday if it goes well, though. I'll try hard. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.