Here it is guys! I am soooo very sorryyyyy for the really long wait... I have been so busy, it's not even funny... DX

Seriously, I'm trying my best to find time. Well, enjoy. ^^

XXX

Only ten minutes, that was all the time the evil Marik gave Yami to decide Yugi and Bakura's fate, but he feared that he wouldn't even have ten whole minutes to decide. Bakura's hand was slipping slowly, Yugi's hand was bleeding so much blood, the evil Marik must have cut an important vein. Either way, he would lose one of them.

"Nine minutes Pharaoh" evil Marik grinned.

Yami glared at the evil Marik before his eyes focused on Yugi, who could only stare back.

"Come on Pharaoh, we all know you want to save Yugi most, so stop putting on an act and just let Bakura die"

"That's enough!" Yami hollered, "This is no act, I care for both of them!"

"If you say so, but you only have eight minutes to make your decision"

Yami glanced down at Bakura as his mind raced to find a way out of this, a way to save them both. The look on Bakura's face didn't help much though. His expression showed a tinge of fear as he looked down behind him. If he fell it would be fatal once he hit ground… that is if the red in the leash didn't fade completely before he got there. Yami's eye narrowed, he glanced at the leash, then at Bakura.

"Bakura…" Yami whispered, "I want you to take my other hand with yours as soon as I let go of the leash"

"Wha-" Bakura said, shock in his eyes as they grew wide before the pharaoh interrupted him with a 'shh'.

"…trust me"

Bakura's eyes focused on the leash in the pharaoh's hand before glancing back at his face.

"Time is running out, Pharaoh" the evil Marik said keeping the sadistic smirk on his face, "What's your decision?"

The only thing the pharaoh's friends could do was watch in horror, for if they interfered, Yugi would be the one to pay for their actions. Yami had to act quickly.

"I've made my decision…" He said as his eyes stayed on Bakura.

Evil Marik's grin grew as he chuckled, ready to see who he'd choose to live, and who'd die. Yami's friends were just as curious, but at the same time, worried.

"Now!" Yami shouted as he let go of the leash, Bakura immediately grabbed his hand soon after.

Yami, with all his strength, then pulled Bakura up almost sending him flying back on the blimp and landing hard on the ground. I must not mess this up! Quickly he snatched the leash and swung it directly at Yugi forcing the leash to wrap around Yugi's arm and pulled him over to him away from the evil Marik and at a successful speed quickly enough that evil Marik didn't even have the time to think about killing Yugi.

Yugi fell hard on the floor, but as long as he was away from evil Marik, that's what mattered most at this moment. Yami ran to Yugi's side, he helped him up enough that Yugi was on his knees, looking up at the pharaoh.

"Yugi, are you alright?" Yami said worryingly.

Yugi held onto his injured hand tightly, cringing from the pain.

"Y-Yeah… I'm fine, it's just a cut"

It wasn't just a cut, from what it looked like the evil Marik had cut open a big vein.

"Well, that was entertaining" Evil Marik chuckled, "Don't think this is the end Pharaoh, for this was just the beginning"

With that, Evil Marik turned and headed for the stairs.

"That jerk!" Joey said before charging towards evil Marik, "I'm gonna-"

"Joey!" Yami shouted as he looked up at his furious friend, "Let him go, right now we need to help Yugi"

Joey glared at evil Marik as he watched the man disappear downstairs. He then turned to look at Yami and Yugi.

"Alright" He said as he approached the two, he placed his hand on Yugi's back letting him know that he wanted him to stand and follow.

Yugi looked at the pharaoh before standing and following Joey to the first aid room. Yami then stood and walked over to Bakura, who was sitting on the floor, watching him the whole time. Yami knelt down in front of him and smiled gently, glad to see he was ok.

"Are you hurt?" he asked with a kind tone.

"…Just my back…" Bakura answered as he lowered his head to look at the floor and away from the pharaoh.

Tea, Tristan and the others walked over to the pharaoh as Tea spoke,

"Pharaoh?" Tea's voice was so quiet however that Yami did not hear.

"…Bakura" Yami said, hopeful that Bakura would look at him, but he did not.

I don't know for sure this time, but I'm almost positive that he's confused… I told him to trust me, and he did, for real… and I've kept my promises.

Yami moved closer to Bakura and wrapped his arms around him, gently pulling him into a hug. Bakura did not put up any resistance this time, instead he let the pharaoh hug him, not only that, but he hugged him back. The way Bakura was acting now though, it wasn't one hundred percent trust, but more uncertain than anything else. Still, it was enough to keep the smile on the pharaoh's face.

"I'm glad you're alright" Yami whispered unaware that Bakura's life was slowly restoring due to the hug.

"No you-" Bakura paused before finishing his sentence, which, sounded almost sarcastic t first, then his voice turned into a soft whisper "…uh... sure"

At least Bakura was taking the whole "starting over" tactic seriously, or as seriously as he could, which was still good enough for Yami. Yami let go of Bakura.

"Wait!" Bakura said before Yami could stand as he grabbed the chain that held the millennium puzzle around Yami's neck and pulled him in forcing Yami to be face to face with him, "You're forgetting something"

Yami blinked, curious to know what it was he was forgetting. He glanced at the leash he held in his hand, some of the red that had faded showed a tad of white. It wasn't much, but apparently Bakura wanted to restore what little life he had lost anyway. Yami looked back at Bakura and smiled.

"Alright" He answered as he nodded.

Yami knelt in front of Bakura, placed his hands on his face, leaned in and gently kissed him. Yami was well aware that another simple hug would cure his lost life source no problem, but the thought only occurred to him after he had kissed Bakura. He opened his eyes slightly to see Bakura's eyes closed as he kissed the pharaoh back. Why am I kissing him like it's only natural we do this? It's almost like… I've grown too used to it… Yami pulled away from the kiss as soon as he realized the white was already more than restored. Both he and Bakura stared at each other, both looking as equally confused as the other, and yet, trying not to show they cared. That should do…

Suddenly, the collar started to glow. Yami stood and stepped away a little. He couldn't help but think he made a mistake. This worried him. His friends however, seemed to watch the glowing collar with awe, obviously not thinking that it was a bad sign.

The collar's glow then shrunk until it was attached to one of the black stripes on the golden collar. Then, just as soon as the glow faded, so did the black stripe. Bakura was just as confused as the pharaoh as to why that happened and for what reason. Bakura stood and placed his hand on the part of the collar where that one black stripe had been, before he, and the pharaoh and his friends looked over to Ishizu for an answer. Ishizu didn't seem to like being the center of attention, but she did seem to know a lot about this curse, and was probably the only one on the entire blimp that knew a thing about it anyway.

She smiled, "You're making progress"

"You mean…?" Yami said as he looked back at the collar, "…The curse is fading?"

"Yes, those stripes aren't there for decoration. Once all of those stripes fade, Bakura will be free, of course. Both of you will have to depend on your hosts once more, but at least Bakura will be free then"

"Right" Yami smiled as he looked back at her.

Of course, he wasn't the only one who was happy they were actually getting somewhere now. Bakura, as much as he wanted to show it, was just as proud. He wanted to smile, but one thought in his mind kept him from showing any motion at this moment. Perhaps it would show the others a sign of weakness if he did. Instead he stood and folded his arms as he watched the others, so happy for the pharaoh, and so friendly to him. Bakura frowned as he looked away. Once Yami's friends decided to head back inside the blimp, Yami turned to see Bakura as he smiled at him… but that smile soon faded, he couldn't help but notice Bakura's posture and expression, though showing anger, had a hint of loneliness. Yami's smile returned into much more sympathetic one as he walked over to him. He placed his hand on Bakura's shoulder. This got Bakura's attention as he looked at Yami.

"The person they should really be proud of, is you, Bakura" Yami said with a kind voice before taking his hand off Bakura's shoulder, "We would have never made it this far if you hadn't helped me"

Bakura's eyes almost turned kind for a moment but he quickly stopped himself as he turned it into a false glare.

"It's just one stripe gone, It's not like we've actually freed me completely…"

"Don't worry, We'll fix that sooner than you think" Yami said before heading back to the inside of the blimp, "Come Bakura"

Bakura stared as he watched the pharaoh leave, but only for a short amount of time before he had to catch up due to the leash.

:::

Once everyone was inside, Yami sighed heavily as he collapsed on the couch in the tv area.

"I think I'd take duelling psycho evil doer's over this any day…" He muttered, "No offence, Bakura"

"Non taken…" Bakura replied.

"…Well, how about something to cheer us all up, I mean. Everyone is safe right?" Serenity suggested, hope trying to fill her eyes.

"…Maybe…" Yami said a little unsure.

Bakura simply watched the pharaoh, looking deep in thought. His eyes narrows slightly as he averted them from Yami, before looking back at him.

"Hmm… Pharaoh?" Bakura said.

Yami looked up at him, curious to what he wanted.

"Come with me…"

Yami blinked, "Um… alright"

He stood and followed just as Bakura turned, walking away from the others and to the hallway. Bakura and Yami headed down the hall, to where? Yami hadn't the slightest idea. Is there something secret he wants to tell me? Or show me? …What could it be?

Bakura stopped in front of their room before opening the door and walking inside, Yami soon following him.

"What is it Bakura?" Yami said as he closed the door.

"Lock it"

"huh?"

Bakura turned to face the pharaoh, "Lock the door"

Yami stared a little confused, but he did as he was told. Yami then walked over to Bakura, who was standing near the bed, and asked again.

"Alright, what is it?"

Bakura did not say anything, he looked a little uncertain at first, but that didn't last too long as Bakura suddenly grabbed Yami's arm and pulled him onto the bed on top of him. This surprised Yami. All he could do was stare down at Bakura.

"Pharaoh, I'm convinced… certain now that this curse has a cure" Bakura said before taking Yami's hand and kissing it softly.

Yami's eyes grew slightly as he listened and watched attentively. He was now more than curious to know what Bakura wanted.

"So…" Bakura continued, "…Give me the best affection you've got, if not better"

"What?" Yami said, shocked as his eyes grew bigger.

What Bakura was asking Yami to do. It wasn't something Yami had planned at all. He's not asking me to… Yami would have thought Bakura was joking, if he was the joking type at all, but he wasn't, and the serious expression on his face did not help either. Bakura was dead serious.

"Bakura… I said I wouldn't do such a thing to you-"

"-Unless you had my permission" Bakura interrupted, "…and now, I give you my permission"

The only reason Bakura wanted this, was to be freed quicker of course… but how much of this was he willing to go through just to do just that? How stubborn was he really? Yami couldn't quite understand. Something in his mind wanted him to do this. He tried to shake the thought but it only came back. Then again, there was another thought that always came back as well, something telling him not to. Which was the right thing to do at this point? Which was wrong? …which was the decision, he should choose?

XXX

Wait till next update.