Takes place an hour or two after 'Resemblance' ends. Honda's reaction to some suspicious behavior, from Ryou as well as the spirit of the ring.

Honda prodded the fresh bruise on the inside of his arm. Much as he liked Ryou, he couldn't help thinking that his other self was a violent brat. It was probably his fault for following Bakura and trying to use a mix of force and bribery to bring him home, but it was either that or let the spirit run amok in Bakura's body.

It was the least he could do to help Bakura, especially when the spirit was so agreeable about staying home and harassing him instead of getting into real trouble. Besides, it wasn't as if he hadn't gained a few bruises defending his friends before. He just usually didn't have to defend them from themselves like this.

Turning so that he could look down at Bakura's face, Honda allowed the surge of protective feelings for his friend cover his doubts about being the other Bakura's new 'playmate.' The fact that Bakura was clinging to his shirt as he slept only made it stronger.

Honda felt needed and useful when he had Bakura to watch over like this. He needed something to do with himself, and at least looking out for Bakura was a worthy goal. After the way the spirited had acted, Bakura's sleeping face looked more worn than peaceful, and Honda wondered if he was seeing Bakura as being more fragile then he really was.

Honda had never known Bakura to have mood swings like the ones he'd seen tonight. Sure, the spirit didn't make sense a lot of the time, but he had never demanded something and then changed his mind that Honda knew of. He was nothing if not stubborn.

He had bitten at Honda's neck repeatedly, mostly ignoring the rest of his body. He had made a complete pest of himself, squeezing Honda's arm hard enough to bruise him while he tried to sink his teeth into his neck.

Honda didn't know if the whole thing had been because of the spirit wanting to cause at least a little damage, or his habit of screwing with people's minds, or some perverse kink of his, or some mix of the three. He had gotten to the point where he clung to Honda, his face completely hidden in Honda's neck, mumbling something that might have been a name, or a curse. Honda almost felt sorry for him.

Almost. As soon as he had stopped trying to get Bakura off of him and put his arm around Bakura's body to steady him, the spirit shoved his way out of his grip. He had snarled what was obviously a curse at Honda and tried to escape. Honda had to drag him back onto the bed.

After a furious struggle, Honda ended up pinning Bakura to the bed, both of them badly out of breath. Honda had offered to let him up if he would behave. All he got for his troubles was a knee in the thigh (lucky for him Bakura was in an awkward position to be aiming from) and the assertion that the spirit was not going to play nice.

Honda had reluctantly let him up anyway, only to watch Bakura curl up snarling to himself that he would not submit to Honda's whims. Ever.

After a few minutes of this, Honda got so fed up that he leaned over Bakura's body and told the spirit that he didn't need to worry, because he wouldn't do anything to him on any terms. He wouldn't even have anything to do with him if he wasn't lurking in Bakura's body.

Maybe it was a bit harsh of him, Honda thought. Then again, he thought he had always been a little too soft on this particular form of evil, at least while it shared a body with Ryou. He had to remind himself that he only felt bad because if it really had been Ryou he was speaking to, he would have been truly hurt. Honda seriously doubted that the spirit cared.

Bakura stirred, tugging Honda's shirt and muttering in his sleep. Honda reached down and ruffled Bakura's hair affectionately, rousing him.

As Bakura rubbed sleepily at his eyes with the back of his hand, Honda tugged his sleeve down quickly to cover the bruise on his arm.

"Honda?" Bakura murmured in a sleepy voice. Honda was sure it was Ryou this time, not the spirit. He didn't seem too alarmed about waking to find himself more or less in Honda's lap. It wasn't until he looked around that Honda could feel the worry building in him. "How did I get home?"

Honda knew immediately what Bakura was worried about, and he was sure that explaining that he had kept Bakura's other self under control by offering up part of his body to be gnawed on would not do anything to reassure Bakura. Instead of explaining he smiled carelessly and said, "I walked you home. Don't you remember? I almost had to carry you, you were falling asleep on me."

It was at least partially true, he'd almost had to carry Bakura at one point to make him behave. The relieved look Bakura gave him was worth it.

"Thank you." Bakura hugged Honda, his arm pressing right where the other Bakura had bruised him before, so that Honda had to concentrate on not wincing. He paused before commenting, "you've been looking after me a lot lately."

Honda wasn't paying attention to Bakura's words. He was suddenly hyper-aware of how close Bakura's face was to his neck. He could actually feel Bakura's breath on the spot that the spirit had been biting.

"Thank you so much."

"It's nothing." Honda squashed the urge to edge away from Bakura. He was sure Bakura wasn't trying to come on to him, but after the way the spirit had acted, he couldn't help interpreting it that way.

"I just stuck around to be sure you were okay. I'd better go home and let you sleep now."

"Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"You were. . . I mean, I thought you were cold." Honda couldn't admit that he had only stayed because Bakura had clung to him in his sleep. "You were shivering."

Bakura looked oddly disappointed as he thanked Honda again. Honda hated lying to him. Once he started every lie just seemed to lead to another. It was that other Bakura's fault in the first place for giving him something he needed to lie about.

"I should really be getting home," Honda insisted. Bakura let go of him reluctantly, but followed him when he tried to leave. He would have rather had Bakura stay in bed and trust him to let himself out.

"You know, you're welcome any time." Honda turned, just intending to tell him goodbye, and Bakura hugged him hard. His lips brushed just under his jaw as he did. Even telling himself it was a coincidence, Honda let out a startled noise.

Before Honda could question him, Bakura darted back inside, and left Honda staring at a closed door.

Honda would have been sure that brush of Bakura's lips against his neck was an accident, except that it had been in the exact same spot that the other Bakura had proved so fond of biting.

There was a strange similarity Honda kept feeling from the two of them, and it wasn't just the body they shared. It wasn't just that spot either. Honda suspected that they were both trying to hide their reasons for hanging on him. He couldn't guess yet what they were, but he knew he needed to find time to work with both of them.

It was Ryou he was worried about. His friend. He used to understand him so well, and now he knew there was something important that he just wasn't seeing. For Ryou's sake, he would have to uncover it.