AN: I'm so sorry this chapter is late! I kept nodding off when I was trying to write it, and had to put it off to the next day, and the next. Geez, teachers shouldn't assign so much reading! Two to four hours of reading a day, about history, isn't exactly fun… . I'll try to update another chapter by Sunday.

Thanks to…
ONIX-21: Yeah, and school is still chaotic. - I have sooooo much reading! Yech, I don't like history class. Anyways, thanks for the review!

casaragi: School is all good except history. We have this fat textbook called Brinkley, and it's murderously boring! Hope school is better for you, and thanks for reviewing!

dragonlady222: I agree with you, though Ryou is struggling to grasp that understanding. Thanks so much for the review!

Superhumansaiyajin: Haha, our school classes are like, completely different. Physics is okay so far, we haven't had any quizzes or tests. History's the problem for me. We've got this HUGE textbook called Brinkley, and it is the dullest thing you can read. And, to make it worse, the teacher assigns heavy readings. . That's what made it so hard to type up this chapter. I was writing this almost after I fell asleep reading Brinkley. Hm, Bakura…it must be hard on him, since he's trying to do what adults do. As for Ryou…you'll find out. - Read on, and thanks a lot for the review!

Ivory Willow: I know, I hate homework. Lol, it inhibits me from writing. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Thanks for the review!

The Vampire Prince: Yeah, poor Bakura…thanks for the compliment and the review!

Maroon Mangaroo: Lol, no, Bakura does not have cancer. Thanks for the feedback, I'll try to go back and fix some of those things. I'm glad you like the story so far, and kept reading, even after I only asked you to read the first chapter. - Keep reading though, m'kay? It gets better (methinks). Thanks for all the reviewing!

Tails7651: Hm, close! He doesn't want to work in the bar at all, really, but works where he doesn't have to interact with customers because he hated dealing with drunk people (like his father). - Thanks for the review!

SV Green: You have no idea what a great compliment that is. Really, thank you so much. I only hope that my writing continues to meet your expectations. - Thanks a lot for reviewing!

Spirited-Lilly: Haha, I have a sister like that! She'll annoy me until kingdom come, though. Anyways, thanks for the review!

Chapter Seventeen: Fog

Sunlight draped a small figure in jeans and a brown tee leaning against the walls of some fairly new condos. Gently scuffing his shoe against the ground as people hurried past him, the child kept his head down. Heaving a sigh, a thought crossed the boy's mind. We're going to be late… But Ryou didn't care. He could miss school entirely today and not care.

As he stared at the concrete sidewalk through blurred chocolate eyes, Ryou felt as if his heart was being ruthlessly pulled from both sides. He hated having this awkward gap between Bakura and him. Why'd this have to happen? Was it punishment for running away?

Whenever Ryou fought with Bakura, Ryou realized afterwards that he was usually at fault. This time, though, it was different. The urge to growl and stomp arose and fluttered around his chest as anger filtered through his mind. He understood that Bakura had to work. That was why he did anything he could to relieve any stress his older brother might have at home. Ryou washed the dishes, kept their room neat and tidy, vacuumed the house whenever it was Bakura's turn, and even reheated dinner for him. Did Bakura notice? Never.

It was like Bakura was too wrapped up about his job to even care about him! That was even more bothersome! Ryou could accept that his brother was tired and needed sleep whenever he came home, but that didn't give the teen the right to ignore him. The child knew that his brother was working hard to pay for his education, but…it was as if all Bakura cared about was sending him to Shin Elementary. Ryou wanted his brother to focus less on school, and more on him.

There was a hiss as the front doors of the condos slid open for Bakura. Ryou blinked away the tears while the snow-haired teen started toward him. Afraid that he would end up glaring at his brother if he looked at him, Ryou quickly took off, marching down the street on his own.

In an act of defiance, Ryou stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. Normally, he held Bakura's hand on the way to school, but today, he was too annoyed and miserable to tolerate even his brother's touch.

Ryou hurriedly crossed one street after another, not pausing at all to wait for his brother. His fast pace allowed his temper to slowly sidle down as exhaustion and despondency gained control of his overheating body. By the time he reached the gates of Shin Elementary, his cheeks were flushed and sweat covered his brow.

At first, Ryou patiently waited for his brother as he tried to catch his breath. Many of his fellow peers walked by, calling out in greeting as they headed toward class. Ryou merely smiled as he watched them go, feeling his impatience increase with each passing student. Where was his brother?

The five-minute bell rang, and Ryou knew he could wait no longer. Muttering incoherent words under his breath, the boy dragged himself up the steps of his school and only glanced back once.

Still no Bakura. Ryou sighed as he struggled to open the heavy glass-paned doors. No lunch, no laptop, no school supplies. Normally, he would have felt a little irritated if something like this happened. Not today. Ryou was just sick of working up a temper and having no one take heed.

Struggling against the need to cry and call for someone who would care about him, Ryou slowly shuffled toward his classroom.

-

The phone rang again, echoing throughout the house in an eerie sort of way. C'mon, it's obvious no one's home. Leave a friggin' message already…

A slick-looking man exhaled some smoke before raising his cigarette back into his mouth. Stupid telemarketers. It'd better not be one of them. His arms, spread across the top of a battered headboard of a king-size bed, rippled with muscle as he stretched quite briefly.

"Honey, should I answer it?" a sleepy voice asked.

Utaka Teishin glanced down at the woman sleeping next to him, trying to recall her name. After a moment, he gave up. It wasn't like he ever brought them to his house a second time anyway. "No, let it go to the answering machine."

"Whatever you say, Utaka."

The man scoffed as he exhaled yet again, waiting for the phone to stop. Soon, there was a click and a beep, before an electronic voice asked the caller to leave a message.

A hesitant voice called out, and that was all it took to make the ends of Utaka's mouth curve into a smile. The call he had been waiting for.

"H-Hello Mr. Teishin, I g-guess you're not h-home, er, right now. It's Officer Keisuke Shiguro, by the way. I was, um, just calling to tell you that, uh, cameras picked up two boys with, er, white hair at the T-Tokaido Shinkansen in downtown, T-Tokyo. It, ah, seems your sons have, uh, left for Kyoto. Please c-call me back soon, so that, um, we can discuss what to do next. T-thanks. My number is…"

"Honey, where are you going?"

"I have to make a phone call…"

-

Ryou stared at the paper, feeling his stomach sink even lower. You have got to be joking… Ryou groaned as his eyes read over the title again and again: Mandatory Parent Conferences Night. What kind of school made conferences mandatory?

From the next desk over, Takui sighed. "Man, that's depressing. My mom and dad aren't going to be happy with my grade in here. What about you? Your parents get worked up about stuff like that?"

Ryou said nothing as he buried his head in his arms. His insides were being eaten by distress. The feeling of depression overwhelmed his mind for a moment, making him want to throw up. Not that he had anything to barf – he hadn't had lunch today. What was he going to do? He couldn't tell Mrs. Tamoki that his 'parents' couldn't come! She would just reschedule a private one! How could he tell Bakura? Bakura couldn't come even if he wanted to! Not that he would want to, Ryou thought bitterly.

"Understood? Two days from now – that's a Friday, children! – your parents will come to this classroom at five thirty." Mrs. Tamokie clapped her hands, smiling as she looked around at her students. "I look forward to seeing you with your parents. Now, I'll excuse you early…"

Ryou only dragged himself out of his desk because Takui kept calling for him. When he reached behind his seat for his backpack that wasn't there, the child gritted his teeth and closed his eyes as he brought his hands up to his face. This…feeling…it made his body ache and scream. Something dark and ominous enveloped his head, making everything seem so bleak and hopeless. He was sick of trying. All he wanted to do was go home and sleep…sleep forever. He didn't want to wake up ever again to that feeling of neglect, that cold absence of someone he loved.

"-you…Ryou!"

Ryou blinked, slowly adjusting to the blazing sun outside. Takui, who had obviously led him out of the school, was frowning at him from a few paces away.

"Are you alright, Ryou?" he asked cautiously, peeking at his friend's pale countenance. "You look worse than this morning. Are you sick?"

Before Ryou could answer, someone else called for the white-haired child. "Hey, kiddo, how was school?" As Malik made his way over to the two boys, Ryou kept his eyes glued to the ground.

"I think he's sick…" Takui loudly whispered.

Malik quickly glanced over Ryou, immediately knowing something was still wrong between the child and his brother. "Thanks, Takui. I'll take care of it. I'll see you tomorrow!" The Egyptian insistently waved off the frowning friend before he gently steered the quiet Ryou away from the front of the school and over to some shade. Then he squatted down next to the child.

For a moment, they stayed like that, Ryou dully staring at the ground with Malik patiently waiting. Ryou knew that Malik wanted to know, wanted to help. But the child didn't want to talk about it, and he hoped that Malik would understand. Ryou heaved a sigh, and would've cried if he hadn't felt so empty inside.

"Malik…just take me home."

-


AN: I hope you liked it…I'm sorry it was late. I'll try to update by Sunday night, and I promise, it gets better. Thanks for reading, and please review!