Warning: You are going to be seriously disappointed by the end of this chapter. I sure as cheese hated doing it D:

When Yami returned to their apartment, it was eleven o'clock at night.

If he was honest with himself, he hadn't been optimistic when he had left that morning. But now, he felt utterly hopeless. It was as though each day of nothing was eating a little more out of him.

He let himself into the apartment, being careful to be quiet. Ryou was usually asleep by the time he returned. He felt around for the light switch and flicked it, illuminating the room.

Nothing seemed out of order; everything was as it should be. Yami was about to set up camp on the lounge room floor when he noticed Ryou curled up on the couch. He did a double take.

Ryou was dressed in his polka-dot pyjamas, but only the collar was visible over the thick green blanket he was underneath. He had huddled himself into a tiny ball and was lying with his head resting on the arm rest with his legs tucked up against his chest. His breathing was soft and gentle; the steady rise and fall rhythm of his chest was almost soothing to Yami.

Yami closed the door behind him and locked it, not taking his eyes off Ryou.

He didn't usually sleep on the couch. Peering into Ryou's room, Yami found it as immaculate as ever. There was no reason why it would be out of service.

Trying not to wake Ryou, Yami made his way into the kitchen wherein he found a note stuck to the fridge. Frowning, Yami picked it up.

Hi Yami :) Don't worry; I cleaned the apartment. I also made you some dinner in case you were hungry; it's in the fridge, so you just need to heat it up. I don't know when you're getting back, so I'm just leaving a note in case I've gone to bed. I actually wrote this before I finished cleaning, so there's no telling what could happen. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow~!

Ryou

Yami wondered why Ryou had seen it necessary to clean the apartment, but after a moment of pondering, he gave up and let out an amused chuckle, his mood lightening. Ryou had that effect on people; it was just so easy to feel happy around him. Even to Yami, who had been so sure that he would never smile again until he had found who he was looking for. His mood saddened at the thought of this, followed by a twang of guilt. What right did he have to be feeling happy around a fluffy haired car enthusiast who liked Snuggies and flavoured milk? Irritated, he slammed the note back onto the fridge door. He was going to be leaving as soon as his task here was complete. Why did it matter how Ryou made him feel?

Despite this thought, he couldn't keep his eyes from trailing down the note once more. Unwillingly, Yami smiled again. Seeing Ryou's naive innocence on material paper was enough to cheer anyone up.

Ryou didn't think he had been asleep for very long when the sound of nearby footsteps caused him to stir. Eyes heavy, he blinked a few times, disorientated. That was right; he had finished cleaning, cooked dinner, showered and finally collapsed on the couch, too exhausted to traverse the final short hike back to his room.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes, pushing the strange green blanket off of himself. He heard Yami in the kitchen, and sat bolt upright.

There had been nothing missing from the apartment, with the strange addition of the green blanket. This meant that Yami must have done it. Maybe a party of some kind...Ryou felt a little hurt at having not been invited, especially since it was taking place in his own home. But still, he couldn't exactly have skipped work, and besides, it was good that Yami had clearly made some friends.

Ryou got up and walked slowly towards the source of the sound, his feet patting noisily. "Yami?" He yawned, rubbing his eyes again.

"Oh – Ryou! Did I wake you? I'm sorry."

Ryou smiled slowly. "It's fine; I didn't mean to fall asleep on the couch. If you hadn't woken me I'd have been stealing your sleeping place."

Yami didn't look convinced, but Ryou smiled again reassuringly. "Anyway, I'm wide awake now; what are you doing? Are you hungry? I made you some dinner."

"Thanks, Ryou."

They fell into silence.

"Hey, Yami?" Ryou asked, remembering something. "Do you know where this came from?" Without waiting for an answer, he ran out to the couch. Yami followed.

Ryou picked up the green blanket and showed it to him. "I don't know where it came from, but it's hella comfy."

Yami nodded. "That's mine – I bought it today."

Ryou frowned. "But, why?"

Yami took the blanket from Ryou and put it back on the couch. "To replace your Star Wars one."

Ryou hesitated. "But I told you I didn't mind you using it! You didn't need to buy a new one..."

Yami looked at him, his usually hard gaze softening. "I wasn't trying to second-guess you, Ryou. I just...well, you didn't mind me using it, but I could tell you didn't necessarily like it. You love that blanket. You didn't want to give it away."

Ryou blinked, touched. It was amazing how easily Yami had seen through him. It was true; he hated sharing his precious blanket, even with Yami.

Don't be ridiculous, he told himself. He doesn't care about me and my blanket. He felt really stupid using it and got a new one. He's just too polite to say so.

Ryou bit his lip. "Oh...thank you, Yami. I'm sorry I was using it."

There was a moment's pause before Yami took a step closer to him. "Don't worry about it, Ryou...you can use it whenever you want." His hand suddenly rested on Ryou's arm. "I've been using yours for two weeks now."

Two weeks, two weeks...that was all they had known each other for. So why did Yami's hand set Ryou's heart off like gunfire?

It was too much, standing here with Yami. Being so close, and yet staring at him through the impenetrable barrier that was his shroud of secrets. His touch causing the hairs on Ryou's arm to stand on their ends; his scent invading Ryou's senses; his face and its frame of spiky hair...

Ryou drew in a breath. "Yami, I..."

Yami lowered his head slightly so that his eyes were level with Ryou's. "Ryou?"

It was way too much. Ryou couldn't take it. His foot shaking, he took a step backwards and tripped over his heel, falling backwards onto the couch. Without so much as a thought, he grabbed Yami for support, only to pull him down too. Ryou had only a moment to sit on the couch in a daze before Yami inevitably fell on top of him, his hand reaching out to break his fall.

Ryou let out an agonised gasp as Yami's hand connected with his side. Yami had straightened himself up in an instant. "Oh god, Ryou...your rib. I'm so sorry!"

Ryou hardly even noticed him. His mouth gaped open in a soundless wail of pain. His hand found his side and he clutched it gently. "Ah..."

Without waiting, Yami rolled up the side of Ryou's shirt and looked at the bandages. "There's no way of seeing the wound; we'll have to take the bandage off."

Ryou was coming back to his senses, the sharp burst of intense pain finally beginning to subside. "No...don't. It's fine, Yami. It's starting to get better." He let out a weak smile. "It didn't hurt that much; you just surprised me, that's all. I'll be okay; it doesn't even hurt at all anymore."

Ryou was seated on the couch, with Yami crouched in front of him, eye to eye. After an awkward moment, they both looked away.

"It's good that it doesn't hurt anymore," Yami said, obviously trying to break the silence. "It...would be horrible if it got worse."

Ryou nodded. "I...should probably get up now." He made to stand, only to trigger another sudden spasm of pain. He doubled over, letting out a sharp gasp.

"Ryou...!"

"It hurts, Yami," Ryou said through gritted teeth.

Yami carefully sat next to Ryou on the couch, being careful not to jerk it too suddenly, and placed his arms around him, his fingers entwining on Ryou's other side. Wordlessly, Yami held Ryou close. "Shh..."

Almost without thinking, Ryou clung to Yami. It was as though his simple act of being there was taking the edge off the pain. Somehow, he was able to keep his breathing normal until the pain from his rib subsided again.

"I...I think I'm okay now."

Ryou was all too aware of what was going on. How could Yami be holding him so close and not feeling a machine gun that was Ryou's pounding heart? Was it that he could feel it and wasn't saying so?

Despite Ryou's statement, he didn't let go of Yami. His hands were together on one of Yami's shoulders with his elbows on either side of Yami's body, holding Ryou himself to him like a vice. Yami's arms were wrapped tightly around Ryou's body. Letting go wasn't an option. How could it be, when time itself was surely about to stop, preserving Ryou and Yami's embrace for the rest of eternity? Yami in his sleeveless leather top and Ryou in his polka dot pyjamas,

"I..." Ryou had never seen Yami look so speechless.

Forcing the words out of his mouth, Ryou raised his eyes to meet Yami's. "Um...Thank you, Yami." He paused. "We should probably let go now."

And let go Yami did. One of his arms removed itself from Ryou's body as his hand moved to gently trace the outline of Ryou's face. "Probably."

Yami's finger lazily brushed a lock of thick white hair from Ryou's pale face. And then, completely out of nowhere, Yami kissed him.

For several seconds, Ryou was too shocked to even comprehend what was happening. In this time, both of Yami's arms had released Ryou's body and moved to his face. One hand trailed down and rested on Ryou's neck. The other cupped Ryou's cheek.

At first, Yami's lips were soft and tentative, pressing Ryou's lightly. Then they grew more urgent, more needy. Finally letting the reality sink in, Ryou raised his arms and rested his hands on Yami's shoulders, using this as a leverage to pull himself closer to Yami. And then Ryou was returning Yami's kiss, his breath coming in short gasps in the brief moments in which they broke apart.

After a few seconds, they both stopped. Yami pulled back slightly, and Ryou opened the eyes he hadn't realised he had closed. "...Yami?"

"Ryou..." Yami's lips descended on Ryou's again. His arms moved down the sides of Ryou's body and wrapped around him again, holding their two selves close enough to have been fused by the sheer heat.

Ryou tilted his head slightly and closed his eyes again, his arms curling needfully around Yami. Nothing at all mattered to him. Nothing would ever matter again. All that mattered was staying here forever. Here in Yami's arms, being Yami's.

One of Yami's hands crept up to Ryou's chest and pushed slightly, meeting no resistance. Ryou leaned back on the couch, letting Yami descend on top of him. Yami propped himself up on his elbows, still kissing Ryou. His lips slowly moved down Ryou's face, brushing it adoringly. He started to kiss Ryou's neck, and Ryou's breath sped up even more. "Yami...!"

Yami suddenly pulled back ever so slightly again. Ryou stared at him, lips slightly parted and still breathing heavily. Wordlessly, Yami reached for the top button of Ryou's shirt and began to unbutton it.

Ryou's heart let out a small flutter as he realised what was happening. One of his hands slid under Yami's shirt and he let out a soft moan and Yami's other hand did the same to Ryou, caressing his skin. Ryou wrapped his other hand around Yami and pulled himself closer.

There was a fire inside Ryou that had been awakened by Yami's first kiss. A relentless, all consuming flare of longing, need, desire and passion. Insatiable but for Yami. Yami, Yami, Yami...Ryou moaned again, and above him, Yami did the same. "Ryou!" he gasped, kissing him harder. His hand finished with the top button, it slid down to the next.

It came like something that had been dragged, kicking and screaming out of a film. The sound of a phone call, greedy for their attention.

Ryou and Yami didn't want to notice it, and it took a while for them to do so. At least two rings had passed before they broke apart, both panting. Ryou didn't even spare the phone a glance as he stared up at Yami, staring down, both their mouths still agape. Ryou shook his head slightly, an ever so slight refusal. Without needing any better signal, Yami pressed his lips against Ryou's again. The phone rang out and stopped.

Ryou's third button was undone before it rang again. He moaned, hatred boiling up inside him for their persistent caller. How could they be trying to dampen something that needed to happen so, so badly?

Again, they broke apart, staring at one another. This time, Ryou managed to break Yami's gaze and look at the ringing telephone for a fraction of a second. It was at least another ring before Ryou managed to form recognisable words. "I should get that...so they'll stop calling."

His eyes ablaze with frustration, Yami sat back on the couch, lifting himself off of Ryou. It took Ryou another few seconds to get his bearings before he finally made a dash for the phone, not taking his eyes off of Yami. "I'll be quick," he said, suddenly feeling incredibly shy. Yami gave a meaningful grin and got up, walking over to Ryou.

He came up behind him just as Ryou lifted the phone off its receiver. Yami wrapped his arms around Ryou's waist and started fiddling with the next button on Ryou's shirt. Ryou's heart gave another fluttery jump as, hands shaking, he lifted the phone to his ear.

"H- hello?" he murmured, his breath still coming shallow and fast. He wished he could keep his voice steady, but with Yami so close, he didn't even know how he was going to pay attention to the caller.

The voice was an unfamiliar one. However, it was alarmingly similar to Ryou's in that it was shaky and hurried. "I'm sorry; I don't have much time. Is Yami there? I really need to talk to him."

The voice was hushed, as though the speaker was whispering. Even Ryou could barely make out what he was saying. "Yami?"

Yami was instantly on alert. He let go of Ryou.

"...Sure you can. He's right-"

Yami snatched the phone from Ryou's quavering hands and took a few steps away. "Who is this?"

Ryou blinked, confused. Who was the caller? Did Yami know him?

Yami lifted his face and let out a sigh of such immense relief and joy that Ryou almost jumped. Yami leaned back against the wall. "Yugi...oh, Yugi, it's so good to hear your voice."

"Yugi?" Ryou asked quizzically, looking at Yami with wide, confused eyes.

Yami didn't even spare Ryou a second glance. He was far too intent on the phone. "How did you get this number - no wait, it doesn't matter. Have they hurt you, Yugi?"

Ryou wished he could hear what Yugi was saying. There didn't seem to be much that he could do but wait.

Yami's whole face hardened in fury. Ryou had never seen him look so terrifying. "I'll kill them, Yugi. I swear to god."

Ryou stared at him, alarmed. What?

"We'll worry about that later; do you know where you are?" Yami was clutching the telephone with both hands as if that could somehow bring him closer to the person on the other line.

"I've got it, Yugi." He paused. "Listen, Yugi; I will come for you. Do you understand me? I will find you."

The hard mask of Yami's face dropped away again. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about, I promise you, Yugi. I'll see you very, very soon."

Ryou bit his lip, twiddling his fingers. What's happening, Yami?

Yami sighed again, his eyes closed. "You will be okay. Yugi, I love you."

Ryou's heart turned to stone. For a brief, blissful second, the feeling remained trapped in the confines of his chest, before slowly and painfully spreading out to the rest of his body. Yugi, I love you. Yugi, I love you...

Ryou heard the sound of Yugi saying something on the other end of the phone, and then, after a few sudden words, the dial tone abruptly cut him off.

There was complete and utter silence.

And then Yami was on the move. He snatched up his backpack and made for the door, slinging the bag over his shoulder while he did so.

"Yami, wait!"

Ryou didn't know why he blurted it out. It was so obvious that all Yami wanted was to leave and find Yugi. His Yugi. His lover.

Yami closed his eyes for a second before turning to face Ryou's warm, brown eyes. "Ryou..."

They stared at each other for a moment before Ryou looked away. "Um..."

"Ryou...I'm sorry...I am so, so sorry."

Even in this state of shock, Ryou reacted as he always would. "You don't need to be sorry, Yami." He hesitated. "I'm just..."

Yami looked at the floor. "What happened before the call...it shouldn't have happened."

Yes, it should! The thought had careered through Ryou's confused brain before his better judgement had a chance to stop it. It was meant to happen! Couldn't you feel it too? Could it really have all been me?

Yami straightened up and looked Ryou square in the eyes. "Ryou Bakura." He lingered on Ryou's name. "You are one of the best people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I...I'm glad that the call stopped us where we were. Before I had a chance to hurt you." He turned around again. "Please, Ryou...if you care about me, don't forgive me. I would never be able to cope." He reached for the door handle.

Ryou sprang forward. "Yami, I..." Yami, I love you!

Ryou choked his sentence short. What was he thinking? Did he honestly still believe Yami cared about him? He was on love with Yugi! If Ryou told him now...about his true feelings, it would look like a feeble, desperate attempt and convincing Yami to stay. Insincere and pathetic. Was that how he wanted Yami to remember him?

"Yami...I won't pretend to know what's going on," Ryou murmured. "But I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Thank you, Ryou...that means so much to me."

Another moment had passed before Ryou dared to speak again. "Will I ever see you again, Yami?"

Yami gave a very sad sigh. "I don't think so, Ryou."

He turned his head to look at Ryou one last time. Ryou had never seen a look of such anguish and regret dare to cross the face of anyone as the one he saw on Yami.

He didn't wait any longer. He opened the door and left the apartment. "Goodbye, Ryou Bakura. I will never forget you."

Ryou could only watch as Yami closed the door behind him. Every synapse in his brain was firing. Follow him! Go; he's Yami! If you don't, you'll never see him again!

But he didn't. It was obvious what had happened; Yami had found his missing 'friend'. And he had chosen this friend, this 'Yugi', over Ryou. And rightly so; they were in love! What right did someone as plain and ordinary as Ryou Bakura have to take away something that Ryou now knew was the most precious thing in the universe?

The cold stony feeling that had spread out from Ryou's broken heart had been holding his head together. But now, alone in the big, empty apartment, it released its hold on Ryou's brain, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop himself from collapsing to the floor in a fit of shuddering sobs.

THE END

Just kidding ;D I wouldn't do that~! I love you guys :3