AN: Oops, I just realized I never left an exact day of the next update…My bad. ;;

Thanks to…

dragonlady222: Hehe, thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the review!

Shamise: You're welcome! Thanks for the review!

FlyingShadow666: lol, I was thinking the same thing when I was writing it! I'm sorry for not putting up an exact day of the next update…Thanks for the review!

Carmen-Nemrac: Really? Thank you, and thanks for the review!

Tails7651: Hah, when you mentioned the Roman, it made me laugh. I didn't think anyone would feel for that guy. Bakura is quite awesome, eh? Thanks for the review!

casaragi: Hey, no problem.  I'm glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the review!

Anime WarriorSkye: Aw, lol. Poor Bakura indeed. Thanks for the review!

Roae: I'm glad to know that you've been reading this story for some time, and that you like it so much! Hehe, that really makes me happy. I don't mind the long review, either, it makes it more interesting for me. When you mentioned the prospect of Bakura and Ryou's character in this story, I was like, So I'm not alone! Lol. I try hard to focus on emotions, because flat characters doesn't really make a good story (or so I've been taught). And the updating part? I know where you're coming from! I have the same problem with a lot of good stories, too! They take FOREVER! So I vowed to myself that even though I may not be as good as them, I'll try hard to update as much as possible! (Hehe, my response to your review is long. XD) I'm glad to hear that you're going to review more often (I love hearing from my readers, and hearing feedback) and that this has been added to your favorites. Thanks so much for, er, all that you said (lol) and thanks for the review!

Chapter Twenty Four: Try

I was sick of it.

It's just that he doesn't do anything! He sits and reads and writes. He doesn't even know how to properly mount a horse!

I was sick of being useless.

Father, you could at least teach him accounting so he could be actually useful!

Useless to them, a burden.

You're asking a slave to teach you how to fight? How pathetic can you get?

I tried hard. I really did.

If you want to be strong, you had better start getting use to the pain.

But in the end, it wasn't enough for them.

You are pathetic.

Why? Why can't I do anything?

I want to be able…to do it myself.

But you can't. That's why you need me.

But I hate leaning on anybody!

There was a clatter of metal as someone dropped a sword. Ryou, shaken and completely broken, stood there as he cried his heart out.

The soft sobbing soon grew louder, even increasing to the level of wailing. His cries were the only thing that disrupted the air as silence in the form of ignorance kicked in. Except for one man who refused to let it slide. There was the sound of rustling cloth as a shadow knelt before Ryou.

Angry chocolate eyes defiantly met the sad violet ones.

"Ryou…"

The child tore away from the outstretched hand. "Get away from me…" Ryou saw a flicker of pain as Bakura withdrew with difficulty. "I don't want you here anymore…I don't want you here! Go away!"

Bakura was completely caught unawares. He slowly stood up, frowning. He was worried about his prince, but he didn't want to make it worse by asking him questions like, Why did you kill those people? But judging by his behavior, I…I don't think he realizes what he's done…

Ryou sniffled as he tried to control his output of emotions.

I don't want to lean on you anymore. I don't want your help anymore. I don't want you holding my hand anymore!

"J-Just go away," Ryou mumbled, turning away from the thief.

Bakura was silent for a moment, slightly smarting inside. Why was the kid suddenly rejecting him so hard? Finally, he sighed as he calmly said, "Get up."

"I said go away!" Ryou shouted back, not facing him. "Leave me alone."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Bakura barked, irked a little now.

Ryou shot to his feet and yelled, "Everything! Okay? Everything is wrong!"

Bakura growled, all patience gone. "Quit being a brat and get up! We've got to go find Marik!"

"I said leave me alone, you thief!"

"Listen, midget, quit playing the coward and get the hell up!"

"I can't!"

"Yes, you can! You have something called legs attached to your lower body, idiot! Use 'em!"

The child's voice threatened to break as he muttered, "Bakura, I can't!"

Ryou burst into tears again as he squatted back down, feeling like a baby. A husky voice scoffed as it whispered, How pathetic can you be?

"Shut up!" Ryou shouted, pulling his head into his arms. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

"You…" Ryou gasped as the thief yanked him up, somewhat cradling him as he strode down the passage. "…are wasting time." Bakura was basically stamping the entire way down the hallway, venting until he reached a semi-cool level of mind.

At first, the little prince struggled against Bakura's firm grip. After a few seconds with no success, he gave one last attempt. "Let me down," Ryou said, but not with much conviction.

Bakura snorted. "Like I'm going to listen to you."

Ryou didn't say anything as he exhaled, feeling his own bones groan. Ever since that blackness left, he felt so…powerless. He felt so hollow inside, like he had lost a little of himself. He felt so tired, so…old. Unconsciously, he relaxed and leaned his head against Bakura.

There were so many questions that Bakura wanted to ask, but he tried to contain himself. Inquiring about all that now would lead to nothing good. He would have to wait until Ryou was ready to talk.

Bakura tightened his hold on the child in his arms. How could he let this go so far?

Suddenly, Ryou fisted Bakura's shirt. The teen stopped, slightly confused. He was about to ask what was wrong when Ryou murmured, "I'm not strong."

There was a moment of silence as Bakura contemplated on his answer. Truth or white lie?

Slowly, he nodded. "Yeah, that's true."

"I'm not fast."

"Yeah…but Ryou…you're getting stronger and faster every day."

The child shook his head. "I try my hardest and it still doesn't matter! I'll never be good enough for them!"

Bakura glanced around, to make sure it was safe to stop for a minute. Then he put down Ryou, and knelt to face him. "Kid, who's 'them'?"

The prince's dumbfounded stare was enough to make Bakura feel like it was a stupid question. He blinked, blushing a little, and scratched his head. "Er…"

Who IS them? Ryou wondered. Is it everybody? Is it the gods? Is it the people? Is it my father and brother? Is it Marik and Bakura?

"I see you out there, every day," Bakura said trying again, diverting Ryou's attention back to him, "practicing drawing that bow like you're crazy. Ryou, you don't try."

Ryou felt bile rise up his throat as he felt anguish weigh down on him. He fought the amoeba of darkness as he thought, Even Bakura?

"Ryou, you do."

The child blinked. Huh? "W-What?"

"And you do all sorts of things, with and without my help. Look at you study! I've never seen someone read so many books. I mean, you've probably read more than Marik and I combined!"

"But I need your help with everything else," Ryou bluntly pointed out.

"If you continue to practice, soon you won't."

Ryou became frustrated, thinking that Bakura wasn't getting it. "I'm trying my best-"

"To try is not the same thing as to do," Bakura shot back. "Look, try to touch me."

After a moment of uncertainty, Ryou inched his hand toward Bakura's shoulder, scowling.

"Ah, but don't touch me," Bakura warned.

"But you just told me to-"

"To try to, not actually do."

Ryou stared at Bakura as his hand dropped back to his side.

Bakura ruffled the child's hair. "We'd better get going."

The thief had taken a few steps before calling over his shoulder to the dazed child, "You can't expect yourself to get better at something in just a few weeks. It takes years of practice and hard work."

Ryou swallowed hard, clenching his fists.

To do, but not try…

Don't listen to his crap.

It takes years…

He's lying. He just doesn't want you to get better.

A small smile of relief appeared at the child's lips as he looked up. Ignoring the frantic dark that was trying to speak, he thought to himself, So nothing's wrong with me. Ryou ran to catch up to Bakura. "Are we going to find Marik?"

When Bakura nodded, Ryou took in a shaky breath. He tried to calm his twitching and tired nerves as air circulated his body. He had to be as strong as he could be for now. But I will get stronger.

As Ryou slipped a hand into Bakura's, words rang in his ears.

While you've given me so much, Bakura, I haven't got anything to offer. What am I supposed to do?

Just do your best.

The hand holding Ryou's tightened just a little.

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AN: Whoa…that was pretty long. Hehe, please review! I'm not sure if the ideas were conveyed correctly, but you know…Erm, expect the next chapter by Saturday night. Thanks for reading, and have a good rest of the week!