Heeeere's chapter two. Took long enough eh? Again, I tried to make it as good as possible. Enjoy.

XXX

Once Bakura's life was fully restored and the feeling in his legs returned, he got to his feet and wiped his lips. Yami stood soon after. Bakura glanced back at the pharaoh in disgust. Apparently he wasn't even the least bit thankful that the pharaoh stepped out of his comfort zone to save him.

So, this is the thanks I get for saving him? Still, this is what I expected from him. Bakura turned to face Ishizu.

"How do you know so much about this curse?" Bakura asked.

"As the daughter of a tomb keeper, I found out many things about the millennium items and their powers. All of them can start a shadow game, and this, is sort of like a shadow game all on its own"

"How is it sort of like a shadow game?" Tea said as she stepped closer, "I mean, it seems dark enough, also Bakura's life is on the line, so-"

"Yes, Bakura's life…" Ishizu interrupted, "but not the pharaoh's. You see, in a shadow you're gambling with both lives on the line, for this, it is only threatening one life. That is why it's more of a curse than a shadow game"

"Oh, I see…"

Once Yami figured the debating was over, he headed for the stairs that led back down to the lower floor. He then stopped as soon as he realized Bakura wasn't going to follow, it's not like he had much choice though, he had to follow the pharaoh everywhere he went anyway.

"You do realize you have to follow me wherever I go, don't you?"

"I'm not moving…" Bakura glared.

"Hmm…" Yami looked at the leash, then back at Bakura and grinned, "Oh really?"

Yami then tugged on the leash hard enough to force Bakura to walk forward causing him to trip though he managed to stay on his feet.

"Now come" Yami said as he once again headed for the stairs.

Bakura growled, bearing his teeth as he unwillingly followed behind.

The others followed Yami. Tristan, Duke and Serenity followed as soon as Tristan put Ryou on his back to carry him somewhere safer.

Yami found it hard to believe that Bakura actually allowed him to kiss him, he thought he'd be a bit more stubborn than that. Then again, Bakura had always been an evil spectre hadn't he? Or was he ever human? Either way, he got Bakura to cooperate and that was the important part. Bakura never seemed to show his emotions before. Did he even have any to begin with? The pharaoh pondered on this subject, not even taking a peek behind him to look at Bakura, instead, he just focused on looking ahead. Well, if he didn't have any emotions… he's probably feeling them now, now that he's mortal. How will this affect him? How will this affect me… Or my friends? Negatively? Positively? I'll have to wait and see I suppose.

"Hey, I have a question" Joey said randomly, "Where's money bags?"

"You mean Kaiba?" Duke replied, "I don't know. He was watching the duel, but then he disappeared soon after"

"Meh, the guy probably thought that that was it for the excitement. Maaan! Was he ever wrong!"

"Well, I'm going to take Ryou to his room so he can rest" Tristan said before leaving the others.

"Ok man, you do that" Joey said before walking into the dining room.

As soon as they stepped in the room, Joey was the first to notice Kaiba sitting at the table, looking through his deck.

"There you are?...What? You finally realize you're deck can never beat mine?" Joey said obviously trying to start a tough guy verbal fight.

"I'm double checking my deck" Kaiba replied before looking at Joey, "and if I recall, Wheeler… , you lost a duel against me in duelist kingdom"

"Huh? Uhh… that doesn't count, I was reckless back then"

"Nothing much has changed about you since the-"

Kaiba stopped himself as soon as he noticed Yami holding the leash in his hand, his eyes followed the leash until he spotted the gold and black collar around Bakura's neck. Not only that but he saw Yugi, as well as Yami, this confused him the most.

"…Mind telling me why there are… two Yugi's? Also, why does Bakura have a collar and why is one of the Yugi's holding a leash?"

"If you stayed after the duel, you would now!" Joey grinned triumphantly, "Let me tell you, Joey style!"

"This should be interesting" Kaiba said sarcastically.

"Ahem! First of all, the taller one is the pharaoh and the shorter one is Yugi. OK! Now the whole collar, leash, whatever thing started when the pharaoh said he'd judge Bakura's evil spirit, which by the way, we call Bakura now… the other Bakura is Ryou so we don't get confused-"

"-Get to the point"

Joey frowned, "Anyway… After that some strange lights burst out of the millennium puzzle and hit Bakura, but the lights created a collar and leash that is somehow his lifeline and now Bakura has to show love to the pharaoh in order to stay alive and break the curse, eventually… phew… I mean, TADA! Explanation finished!"

Kaiba gave Joey a weird look, like always. Only this time with more doubt than usual. Kaiba was a very sceptical guy. He didn't believe Yami was a pharaoh, he didn't believe in shadow games, he didn't believe anything that seemed out of place of what he thought was reality. He probably wouldn't believe in duel monsters being able to come to life even if one stepped off the field and slapped him in the face.

"Wheeler, at first I just thought you were weird, now I can see you're just a plain loony. Do you honestly expect me to believe that load of lies?"

"What! Can't you see the so called 'two Yugi's' standing right here?"

"Yes, that itself is questionable, but I refuse to believe anything about the whole puzzle light show thing you just told me about"

With that, Kaiba grabbed his deck, got up and left as soon as possible. Probably trying to avoid any more 'dweeb talk' or so he would call it.

The room was quiet for a minute or so as everyone stared at each other, but it didn't stay that way for too long.

"Well! I'm hungry, let's eat!" Joey said.

"Way to change the subject" Mai said jokingly as she made her way to the T.V. area.

While some watched television others simply ate and chatted with each other. Yami decided he should get something to eat too, and maybe something to drink. He walked over to the fridge as Bakura followed. Once there he opened the fridge and took out a small box of apple juice and poured it into a cup he took out of the nearby cupboard.

"Did you want anything?" He asked Bakura who was just watching, arms folded with an un-amused expression on his face.

"I'm not hungry… or thirsty"

Bakura's voice was angry. Of course, that was only natural. Why shouldn't he be angry? He just became the servant of the person he despised most and the only to break free from it all was to give affection to him. How could anybody be even the least bit happy to have to be supremely kind to the one they hate most? Yami sighed before looking back at the cup of apple juice and taking a drink.

"I do have a question, however" Bakura said.

"Mhmm?" Yami replied not taking his lips off the cup.

"How will this affect our showering needs?"

Yami then breathed all too quickly at the same time he had swallowed causing him to choke.

"Pharaoh!" Tea panicked as she ran to his side, "You ok?"

Yami coughed once more before answering.

"…Y-Yes, I'm fine" His attention then turned to Bakura, "Showering needs?"

"Yes, mortals need to stay clean, how do we shower separately if you're constantly holding that leash?"

"Um…"

"Shower together!" Serenity suggested with an innocent smile.

"What? Serenity! Guys don't take showers together!" Joey bawled, "How could you think that?"

"Secure guys do, and so do gay guys. Joey the world isn't completely made up of insecure men"

Joey only responded with an odd look on his face. He tried to say something else, but just couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Well, It would be a little awkward taking a shower with someone, and a little hard to do" Yami mumbled.

"Oh, don't worry your highness, I'll be there to wash your back" Bakura said sarcastically.

Yami couldn't help but show the embarrassing blush that formed on his face, no matter how hard he tried to prevent himself from blushing.

"Don't worry Pharaoh, we'll figure out something" Tea said, trying to make things better for Yami.

"…Yeah…" Yami's attention turned to Ishizu, hoping she'd know of a way to allow them to be separated, even for a little while.

"…I'm sorry Pharaoh. I do not know how to help you there. However, I will study more on this curse. Maybe I can help you then"

"Thank you… oh, we don't even know who you are yet"

"Yeah, what's your name?" Yugi asked in a friendly tone.

"I am Ishizu, I will tell you more in the near future"

"Oh… Ok"

"Um… speaking of showers… I think we all need to bathe" Joey suggested.

Everyone stared at Joey for a moment before smelling themselves.

"Yuck, You're right!" Tea said, "I smell horrible"

"We all do" Tristan cut in, "We've been duelling in battle city for days, trying to defeat Marik's minions non-stop, I suppose we all need a good long shower"

"Woah! When did you get back Tristan?" Joey shrieked as he jumped in surprise.

"Not too long ago. What, you didn't notice me enter the room?"

"No… Oh well. Time to shower today! Then duel tomorrow!"

Immediately Joey dashed for the door.

"Wait a minute!" Tea shouted to the over excited Joey, you'd think by the way he was running out of the room he was addicted to staying clean.

Joey quickly stopped where he was and spun.

"Wha! What? What is it?" He said.

"Doesn't it bother anybody but the pharaoh and Bakura that they're cursed? Well, Bakura mostly, but you know what I mean"

Joey sighed and scratched the back of his head as he closed his eyes, probably trying to figure out a way to explain what he wanted to her.

"Actually, not really. I mean, I care but… I guess I've been around this millennium hocus pocus stuff for so long I'm kind of used to it now" Joey said before looking at Yami, "But don't worry pharaoh. I assure you we'll be there for you no matter how weird this curse gets, aaaand… no matter how suggestive too…"

"Uh? S-Suggestive?" Yami stuttered.

"Yeah, I mean you have to show affection to him, and that itself is suggestive enough to people who don't know what's really going on"

"O-Oh… I suppose"

Joey gave Yami a friendly smile before turning around and heading for the shower room.

"Hmm… I guess he's right" Tea sighed.

Just by watching his friends reactions to all of this, even though some may not show that they cared much, deep inside, they were truly worried for the pharaoh, but why? Why are they so worried about me? My life is not on the line. Perhaps it's because I want to help Bakura… Bakura, he was always after the millennium items, always hurting Yugi's friends... my friends… Perhaps they are worried that Bakura, once he's free, or, if he's ever free, would just continue in his ways. Continue creating pain and misfortune for others. Yami sighed before turning his attention to Bakura, who was looking away, staring at the floor, arms folded. Maybe… he can be changed… somehow.

Yami placed the cup in the sink, then headed for his room.

"Come" Was all he said to Bakura.

Bakura did not put up any resistance to follow this time. Instead, he did as he was told. Both were quiet as they walked through the halls. We both hate each other. Neither of us show any real affection to each other… still, Ishizu didn't say anything about it having to be real affection… just… affection. I wonder, can I possibly keep Bakura alive long enough to break the curse? Can he keep himself alive? Yami's eyes narrowed as his thoughts deepened on the subject, by the way he reacted when Joey took the leash from me… was it fear? It didn't take long for Yami to snap out of his thoughts as soon as he reached the door to his room. He opened the door and entered the room. Once both Yami and Bakura were in the room, he shut the door and the choker around his neck off first, then the bracelet's that were very similar to the choker next.

"What are you doing?" Bakura asked with slight anger in his tone.

"Joey's right, we all haven't bathed in days, and I'm sure everyone would appreciate it if nobody smelt bad"

"Are you suggesting we actually bathe together?"

"Do you know any way to not have to?"

"Yes, don't bother cleaning yourself"

"I don't think you understand. If someone doesn't clean themselves for a long amount of time that's where they can get sick easily, plus they'll reek of a really bad case of morning breath. Since you are now mortal as well it would affect you too, and trust me it only gets worse from there. I think it's best we bathe"

Bakura smirked as he let out a small giggle.

"You're a very secure man Pharaoh… I must admit I respect that in some mortals, but I'm not getting in there with you. Afterall, I may be secure myself, but I already have to show affection to you and that's bad enough"

"Is see" Yami stared at Bakura or only a moment before he continued, "Ishizu said you have to do as I say right?"

"…right"

"…and if you don't I can force you"

"What? Just because I won't bathe with you?"

"No, because you won't swallow your pride and follow orders …and if you don't I can just let go of the leash and let you die"

"Please… you don't have the heart too-"

Just before Bakura could finish Yami dropped the leash and the red began fading to white once more. Bakura's eyes grew as he gasped in shock at the sight of the white making it's way to the end of the leash.

"NO!" Bakura screamed as he dashed for the leash, dropped to his knees, grabbed the leash and placed it back in Yami's hand keeping his hand closed tightly. The red stopped fading, his life was a third way gone.

"You see, if you just cooperate-" Yami paused.

He could feel Bakura's hands trembling as they clutched his hand, as if Bakura was afraid to let go of Yami's hand, afraid he'd just let go of the leash again.

"You idiot…" Bakura growled in a shaky voice. Then he glanced up at the pharaoh, eyes angry, yet hiding fear, or trying to, "You could have killed me! Damn this curse! Damn you!"

Though Bakura showed much anger towards the pharaoh at this moment, he also showed fear, as much as he tried to hide it. Yami had never seen Bakura like this. He never seemed so afraid of death before… probably because you can't kill a spirit, but now, he had complete control over Bakura's life, now that Bakura was mortal, he was experiencing the fear most people seem to experience at least once in their lives. The fear of death, and Bakura's life was so fragile now that even a single mistake could kill him. Bakura had been a spirit for all his life, unless he ever was human before, but either way he was now vulnerable to death. Yami couldn't help but feel sorry for Bakura. He had it worse than anyone right now.

Yami knelt down in front of Bakura and brought of hand up. However, Bakura still did not let go of his hand, even as Yami tried to take his hands off his, Bakura only tightened the grip.

Yami's eyes looked at Bakura's. Bakura, though he looked angry, really was afraid. Yami could tell easily, the shaky hands didn't help Bakura much in hiding his fear.

"Bakura, you can let go of my hand. I won't let go of the leash this time"

"You're bluffing…" Bakura glared.

"Trust me"

Bakura looked down at Yami's hand, then slowly took his hands off his. Yami kept his word, he held on to the leash tight enough to let Bakura know he wasn't going to drop it again.

"…Alright" Yami said as he stood, Bakura standing soon after, "Are you ready to listen to what I say now?

Bakura sighed only a little.

"Yes…" he said.

"Good… now strip naked and get in the bathroom"

"Bloody scum!"

XXX

Yep, I'm going to make you wait for the bathroom scene. *bricked* Anyway, I hope you're liking the story so far. ^^