IkutosGirl: I told you that I would try to update quicker! :)

Bakura: Well, what do you know, you weren't lying!

IkutosGirl: Why are you so rude?

Bakura: Because I can be!

IkutosGirl: Well that is just wonderful…

Ryou's POV

"Then it's settled! We'll trade your freedom for the safety of Bakura!~" The voice called.

I just stared at the ground, feeling too sick to do anything.

Bakura's POV

I sat up in my bed, listening through the darkness. I could have sworn that I had heard Ryou talking to someone. I swear if that Ra-damned Pharaoh is here with any of his stupid friends I will not show any mercy!

Sobbing.

I could hear Ryou crying now, from his room. I stood up, feeling dizzy due to the sudden change in position. I made it to my door just in time to hear the crying stop. Of course, the sniffling was still present, and I opened my door and continued down the hallway to Ryou's room.

A thump.

Had he fallen? Did he faint of get hurt? I quickened my pace, but the hallway felt like it was never going to end. In what was probably 5 seconds, but felt much longer to me, I made to Ryou's room. There was no sound from inside and I knocked on the door. I got no response. Not caring about privacy, I surprisingly opened the unlocked door.

"Ryou, where are you?" I called nervously.

I was greeted with silence and scanned the room for any sign of Ryou. I noticed a dim light shining from inside Ryou's bathroom. The door was closed but the light was obvious through the cracks. I quickly stepped over to the knob and turned it.

"R-Ryou?" I gasped in shock.

Ryou was lying on the floor next to the toilet. My first guess was that he had been throwing up, but the toilet was clear so that was not the case. Maybe he had just thought he would throw up and retreated to the bathroom. I picked him up in my arms, trying my best to be gentle.

I walked past the mirror above the sink when I stopped in my tracks.

'BE GRATEFUL'

The words had been etched into the mirror. I stared at the carving and stood in place, too stunned to move. Finally I blinked my eyes and when they reopened the eerie message was gone. I inspected the mirror frantically, but I didn't even find a single scratch.

I sighed and continued what was at most importance; carrying Ryou to his bed. I mean, I'm not exactly superman and he isn't exactly a feather either! Honestly, I don't remember him weighing this much.

Or what if I'm just weak now?

No, that is not possible! I am the Thief King, and in my opinion, the best man in the world!

By the time I finished ranting in my head I had reached Ryou's bed. I placed him softly onto his bed. I felt his face; it was slightly warm, but nothing serious. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. He had really given me quite the shock when I found him on the floor.

"Ryou, why were you on the floor?" I whispered as I pushed a stray strand of hair back into place.

Ryou hid so many things from me. His feelings, his worries, and occasionally his thoughts if he managed to close the mind link were things I couldn't hope to understand. I was so cut off sometimes that it hurt. I wiped my face dry an-

I wiped my face dry! I-I don't cry though… I've never cried...

Ryou's POV

I felt comfortable right now. But I thought I had fainted on the floor after… what had happened. I struggled to open my eyes. They rejected the light that was forcing itself on them and I had to close them. I tried again and I managed to open them just enough to make out Bakura's figure.

"B-Bakura…" I just barely whispered and I knew that he had not heard me.

I opened my eyes wider and managed to blink, and blink, and blink again. Was Bakura… crying?

"B-Bakura?" I said much louder this time startling him.

He stared at me in shock and his eyes were clearly red.

"Aw, fuck!" He cried and turned around stubbornly.

I don't know what was more appalling to me; seeing Bakura cry or hearing him say the F word for the first time.

"Bakura, why are you cryi-?" I tried to ask.

"Shut up." He interrupted me before I could finish.

I abruptly shut my mouth and stopped talking. The air between us grew tense and I had the sudden urge to cough. For the longest time Bakura just stood in place with his back towards me while I lied down in my bed. I couldn't help it, I coughed. I blushed; feeling embarrassed even though I knew that there was no reason to be.

"Are you okay?" Bakura asked me suddenly, catching me off guard.

"It was just a cough…" I stated, feeling even redder than before.

Bakura turned around; his eyes showing no signs that he had been crying moments before.

"Are you feeling warm? Your face looks a bit flushed." Bakura asked again.

"I'm fine." I snapped, getting annoyed.

"But, your face-"

"I'm fine, so could you please shut the hell up!" I yelled at Bakura.

He just looked at me, obviously feeling hurt.

"Look Bakura-" I tried.

"You're right, you're fine. I'm leaving now." Bakura stopped me and turned around.

Before I could say another word he walked away, not bothering to close the door behind him.

"I'm…I'm sorry Bakura!" I yelled from my bed, hoping it would reach his ears.

"Good," I heard Bakura say as he emerged into my doorway. "Because it would suck if you weren't."

I smiled at him and wished that this rare tender moment would last longer than it should. But, of course, I had never been blessed by fate and I began to feel drowsy.

"Sh-shoot…" I muttered, grabbing my head.

"Ryou?" Bakura called worryingly and ran over to my side quickly.

"Oh please, Ryou, do not tell me that you have already forgotten our little deal.~"

IkutosGirl: Poor, poor Ryou. I feel like I'm picking on him.

Bakura: Because you are, you little-

IkutosGirl: Why would I pick on him? He is my favorite character after all~

Bakura: But I thought I was your…

IkutosGirl: You thought wrong!

Bakura: WAAAAH! *runs of...erm… crying*