A/N Dedicated to Spiritsong! (Major thankies to Fiverfor betaing.)

And now back to your regularly scheduled program - angst. Warnings: Major AU (Because it's not clear in the story, Ryou's last name is not Bakura in this universe), Tendershipping, Angstshipping. Up to you to decide which, if any, of those are onesided. Yeah. It's that kind of chapter. Told anachronistically, each new section has a different date than the last.


Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~ Maria Robinson


-1-

Ryou awakens with a start, only to find his nightmare has not ended.

The alarm reads 7:16. The sun is shining too brightly.

He thinks about crying. He thinks about killing himself. He thinks about laughing.

(He thinks about murder.)

Ryou climbs out of bed with ease and switches off the alarm that is programmed to ring at 7:30. It is just a precaution; he has never slept long enough to see the alarm clock in action.

(Ryou is always too early.)

He, like a soldier, marches towards the bathroom to prepare for the battle ahead.

The losing battle.

-2-

Malik's unpredictability was what Ryou loved about him.

When they first met as children, it was the spontaneous, bold, adventurous spirit of Malik that had drawn the quiet and shy Ryou out his shell.

But now...

("You look like hell, Ryou. I mean, more than you usually do." Malik would say, twenty seconds after Ryou opened the door.)

Ryou, trembling, twists the doorknob. With every ounce of strength in him, Ryou does not run away at the sight. One desk fills the closet-sized room and stacks of paper are arranged on it neatly, in direct contrast to the newspaper clippings tacked to every inch of the walls, overlapping and some upside down.

Malik, sipping from his mug, looks Ryou up and down.

"You look like hell, Ryou," he says, "I mean, more than you usually do."

Ryou sighs.

"I know."

(I know, I know, all of it, every piece of the puzzle...)

"Even if I ask, you won't tell me, will you?" Malik asks half sadly, half resentfully.

Ryou shrugs, but there is a trace of a smirk on his face.

"What, no guesses?"

Malik glares at him, the same death stare he always gives whenever Ryou stops acting like the quiet and shy person he is supposed to be.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and hope it was a bar fight. Or drug deal gone bad. You know, I'd even be happy with human trafficking."

Almost right. Bakura isn't unlike a drug.

"But it's not any of those things, is it?" Malik says, eyes narrowing.

Ryou shakes his head.

(The ghost of a smirk is back.)

"What do you see in him?!" Malik yells, his words laced with venom, "He's a criminal - not to mention the fact that he's a psychopath!"

(Sociopath is probably a more accurate description, but Ryou says nothing.)

Malik sees how unfazed Ryou is by his words. Deep in his purple eyes, something stirs. He is searching, searching for something that will tear through Ryou.

"And he doesn't love you."

Ryou feigns hurt, and holds back laughter.

(What, do you really think I don't know by now? Do you think that I can't tell?! I hate him, I hate him-!)

Malik's angry expression turns pained. He grabs Ryou's hand to stop the shaking.

"Look," Malik says, almost gently, "You know I only say these things because I-"

Ryou snatches his hand back.

"Don't we have a job to do?"

Malik glowers at him, his face radiating disgust, but he turns and rips a newspaper clipping off the wall.

"A little girl is missing. Dad's very...generous," Malik smirks, "Looks easy too. Probably some perv or a kidnapping thing. Shouldn't be too hard."

Malik hands him the article and again looks at the sorry state Ryou is in.

"I don't think you could handle hard."

(It's at this point that Ryou thinks about balling up that accursed article, pulling Malik roughly by his collar and demanding that they go some place far away, any place where he wouldn't have to wake up in that bed again- ...anything but that...)

"Ryou?" Malik says, snapping his fingers.

"Malik," Ryou pauses, "I..."

(...need your help; I've needed your help for so long...)

"What?"

Ryou stops.

("A coward through and through, aren't you?")

"I..." a pause, "...need some coffee."

Malik opens his mouth to say something, but then it twists into a snarl. He takes his coffee mug and shoves it into Ryou's chest.

So close to his face, the spark (the spark of hatred, of fury) is rekindled in Malik's eyes.

"If only Amane could see you now. She'd be so proud."

(Now that, that still hurt.)

Malik pushes past Ryou and out the door.

-3-

"What the hell was that?" Malik exclaims as he grips the edge of the train seat.

Ryou endures the slight turbulence without a second thought.

"I wish you wouldn't curse so much," Ryou mutters as he gazes out the window. Domino's few skyscrapers, never changing, shrink behind him.

Malik snorts, "We can't all be saints like you, Ryou."

"I'm not a saint."

(His voice trembles.)

"Then quit acting like one," Malik snaps, eyes blazing.

How long has he been holding that in? Ryou wonders. A lifetime?

"Amane wouldn't like you swearing so much."

Malik's eyes sizzle, but he says nothing.

(And it's at this moment Ryou realizes that Malik finally hates him.)

-4-

"Disgusting," Malik whispers at the sight.

The whores. The drugs. The dead bodies.

And, after hours of 'interviewing' and searching, they find her. Bloody, curled up in the dumpster, dead. The first time Ryou saw it, he threw up. The second time, he cried.

But now...

"Bastards," Malik mutters and drapes his coat over the little girl they had been hired to find. Find, not save. Never save.

Ryou trembles.

"Come on, Malik," he says, "Let's get her to some place safe."

Malik nods.

Ryou wonders what happens to the little girls who die like this. Do they go to heaven? Do they get to be happy?

Or do they become trapped in the moments of their misery?

(Forever.)

-5-

Bakura is there. Watching him.

This is the first day that he's seen it, but knowing him (Ryou clenches his fists) he has been watching for a long time.

Ryou refuses to acknowledge him and turns to Malik, who has the girl cradled in his arms.

You did this, Ryou thinks, shooting a glare towards Bakura.

This was all your fault.

-6-

The wounds change. Subtly, it's taken Ryou this long to notice, but they do. The wounds on her body change.

In a disgusting way it gives him hope.

-7-

"Are you…are you alright?" Malik asks, uncertain.

Ryou regards him coldly.

"I'm fine."

"I know it's hard…that girl looks so much like…and it brings back those memories…"

Malik sighs, and runs a hand through his blonde hair. He then places it on top of Ryou's hand.

"I'm here. You remember that, right? I understand."

Ryou shakes off his hand.

(You couldn't understand, no matter how many times I told you…)

-8-

"Ryou!" Malik shouts, just as Ryou is stepping off the train.

The white-haired boy looks back, surprised. Hopeful.

(Don't let me go, please don't let me go, Malik…)

"I swear, if I find out you talked to him, tomorrow I'm making you clean the office."

Ryou sighs. It was pointless to have hoped.

-9-

They don't say a word to each other today.

Ryou just follows him.

-10-

"You're so much more cooperative this way."

Ryou doesn't even bother to look at him.

Bakura wraps his arms around him and whispers in his ear.

"Three years have changed you, even more than I thought they would."

Ryou's posture tenses, but he doesn't fight.

"I hate you," Ryou says. No emotion. He's used up all of that.

"I don't care," Bakura snarls, appalled at the thought that he would.

(Softly, Ryou hears him whisper, "At least you're alive.")

The clock ticks, replacing the rhythm of Ryou's heartbeat.

Bakura clutches him tighter.

Ryou closes his eyes and sighs.

-11-

"You're not even sorry," Ryou hisses with all the venom he can muster.

Bakura is unfazed.

"For what?"

"About that girl. You could have saved her," Ryou accuses, disgust etched into his face.

What happens next is the last thing Ryou expected. Bakura laughs. Low and deep and bitter and without humor…

"I can't save anyone, Ryou," he says, still chuckling, "I thought you would have realized that by now."

The hairs on the back of Ryou's neck stand straight up. The hardwood floor creaks as he takes a step back, on pure instinct alone.

Bakura looks him up and down, amused by his fear.

"Are you afraid of me, Ryou? Still?"

Another laugh.

Ryou, sensing danger, turns to leave.

Bakura grabs his wrist.

"Don't go."

He is squeezing so hard, Ryou is certain he'll have a bruise when he wakes up tomorrow.

"Stay. Just for tonight."

Ryou is robbed of his words. Bakura is begging.

Mechanically, Ryou nods and sits back down.

He would find the girl's killer tomorrow. There was always tomorrow.

-1-

Ryou awakes with a start, only to find his nightmare has not ended.

("It's endless.")

To his side, the alarm reads 7:16.

All of the rest of his emotions die. Beautiful numbness begins to set in.

-2-

"You look like hell Ryou," says Malik, "I mean, more than you usually do."

Ryou freezes.

"Why did you say that?" he snaps wildly.

Malik snorts. "Because it's true."

Ryou shakes his head. Déjà vu. That's all.

"So," Ryou gives a forced smile, "What's our next case?"

-3-

"Sometimes I forget how beautiful it is," Ryou mutters, almost bitterly.

Malik looks over his shoulder and gazes out the train window.

He snorts.

"I can't believe you've kept your innocence, after all these years in our business, Ryou."

Ryou doesn't even acknowledge Malik's presence.

"The grass, after everything, stays so lush. The sky is always that same perfect shade of light blue. Reminds you of home, doesn't it? It reminds me of home, at any rate. Still the same, after all these years…"

Two streams of wet tears fall down Ryou's face. (He doesn't notice.)

"Ryou!" Malik yells, shaking him, "What's wrong with you?"

He laughs quietly.

"That's the thing Malik. I don't know."

-4-

Ryou covers his eyes. He doesn't want to have to see her again.

(Again and again and again…)

Shielding his sight doesn't stop him from shaking, though.

-5-

Poor girl, Ryou thinks as he weaves in and out of the alleyways, Malik at his side.

Every corner is stained with blood and shadows.

To think she had to lose her soul here…

They turn a corner, and a shiver travels down Ryou's spine.

He spins around, but there is nothing but shadows.

-6-

"Do you even notice?" Malik hisses, suddenly (though, not really, if Ryou looks at it in the scheme of things).

"Notice what?" Ryou asks.

"Don't lie to me Ryou. You know exactly what I mean."

Ryou looks down. The girl's resemblance to Amane is uncanny.

(It makes his heart twinge, but not enough for any real emotion. Can he even feel any real emotion anymore?)

"Well?!" Malik screams. He's crying.

Ryou turns away. (Malik's never cried before, which means somehow, someway, this has changed Malik…subtly, swiftly, without notice…?)

"I notice."

-7-

"Please tell me you're not going to see him again tonight, Ryou."

Ryou says nothing.

(Domino grows nearer and nearer in his window.)

Malik grabs Ryou's wrists and pulls.

"Promise."

His lilac eyes are hard and burn him worse than any fire ever could.

"I promise," Ryou says.

(What's one more lie upon thousands?)

Malik's hand lingers, but eventually retreats.

-8-

The train stops abruptly at an apartment complex that looks slightly crooked.

"Ryou," Malik says, any trace of arrogance gone.

Ryou looks at him longingly.

(If only I could...)

"Don't do anything stupid."

For once in two years, Ryou almost thinks he can smile.

-9-

"You."

He emerges, arms crossed, scowling.

"Ryou."

Ryou hates the way he says his name.

(And he hates the way it makes his heart–)

No.

What he said was unforgivable.

"What are you doing here?" Ryou says, trying his best to form words through his endless rage.

"We need to talk."

It was not a suggestion or a plea; it was a command.

(Ryou hates that too.)

"About what?" Ryou shouts, borderline hysterical, "What else can you possibly say to me?!"

Bakura always knows how to break him. How to take the things that are fundamental to Ryou – his politeness, his good nature, his forgiveness – and obliterate them.

His scowl darkens, but Bakura doesn't open his mouth.

"Well?"

"You don't want to be alone tonight. Not after what happened," he pauses, searching for something, "And you're going to need…proof."

"How do you know about her?"

A smirk. "I know everything."

Ryou's head begins to throb. It always did when he was around Bakura.

His heart stops beating.

"Do you know who killed her?" Ryou asks, all his anger disappearing. He has to bring this girl's killer to justice. (He couldn't for Amane but maybe…)

"I have an idea," Bakura admits, but he doesn't meet Ryou's gaze.

"Tell me!" Ryou shouts, ecstatic, heart beating faster and faster.

"Come with me to my house."

"Fine."

(Ryou gives up so quickly, it's hard to tell if they were even fighting to begin with.)

Bakura's scowl doesn't change, but his features light up. He reaches out to take Ryou by his hand.

"Don't touch me."

He does, anyway.

-10-

"I hate you," Ryou snarls.

"But you come here every night," Bakura says, undaunted, "What do you think that says about you?"

Ryou clenches his fists and sinks back into Bakura's arms

-11-

"You will sleep here tonight."

Ryou agrees, only because it doesn't matter.

-1-

Ryou awakes with a start, only to find his nightmare has not ended.

He, slowly (the fear stuns him, paralyzes him) turns to look at the clock. In bright, red, scarlet red letters the alarm says 7:16. A loud, cracked sob bursts from his throat.

The sun glares down at him, filling his whole room with light.

Ryou could stay in bed. Maybe that, if he just refused to do anything…would change something.

(For better or worse, he didn't care at this point.)

He thinks, but nevertheless, marches to the bathroom to prepare for work.

Malik. Malik would help him. Malik would save him.

He turns the shower on and catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

Ryou's eyes are bloodshot; three long cuts are sliced on his left check. His right arm is covered with bruises.

All of him, every inch, is a wound that will never heal.

-2-

There Malik is, all golden and perfect and untainted.

Concern flashes through Malik's eyes. He closes them, and then takes a long drink from his coffee.

"You look like hell, Ryou," he sneers, "I mean, more than you usually do."

Ryou doesn't respond, and instead goes straight to the back wall and rips down the newspaper article.

A young girl with blonde hair and green (Amane's green) eyes is pictured.

I'll save you this time, Ryou promises.

This time it will be different

-3-

"You're an idiot. Not even a naïve idiot, anymore, Ryou. Just an idiot," Malik sneers, "You know that, right?"

Naïve. No, he is still very naïve. But Bakura can't keep him in the dark forever.

(Can't keep him here forever.)

"Ryou!"

"What?" Ryou says exhausted, "What do you want me to do?"

Malik's mouth drops open.

"Really? Is that really a question?"

Ryou nods.

"Dump him!" Malik shouts.

(Ryou doesn't even bother to point out that they're not together. The tone in Malik's voice suggests a rant is imminent and Ryou's known Malik long enough to know not to interject.)

"What part of that do you not understand? Look at what he did to your face! Not that – I mean, I like the way you look and everything – but, UGH – Ryou he hurt you! How can you want to see him again?"

"I'm not going to talk to him again," Ryou lies.

"Yeah, right," Malik snorts, "The truth is written all over your face Ryou. You're like a stupid, pyromaniac moth to a flame."

Some silence.

Then quieter, "You're going to get burned, Ryou."

Ryou looks out the window as the train speeds ahead further and further to their preset destination and wonders if that's already happened.

-4-

She's dead. As always.

-5-

He feels someone watching. Ryou knows his there. But he can't do anything.

(...He won't even try.)

Malik doesn't notice, and cradles the poor dead girl in his arms. Right now, there is nothing else in Malik's world but this girl.

They are similar, he and Malik, in that way. They both have learned to ignore each others very existence.

-6-

"Whoever did that to her," Malik says, placing the body on the train, "We're going to find them. No matter what."

Ryou doesn't even have to agree.

-7-

"You hate me."

Malik gasps almost inaudibly, but then rolls his eyes.

"What gave it away?"

Ryou is unfazed by his sarcasm.

"It wouldn't mean anything if said I was sorry," Ryou says in a monotone. But his voice cracks.

He closes his eyes.

(I've said, I've said it so many times Malik, and each day, each second, you drift further away from me and I can't do anything…I can't…I'm sorry…but fate, my fate, it is…)

"Unavoidable, really," Ryou says, with a soft laugh, "I'm surprised it took you so long to mean it, to not forget tomorrow."

(His eyes remain closed.)

"I wish I could change it, Malik," his voice quivers, "But I can't. And I can't even tell you I'm sorry. But I am."

("More than you'll remember.")

"Ryou…" Malik says softly, "What are you talking about? What is wrong with you?"

He opens his eyes.

The train is grey. There is no color anymore.

Malik says more things; both with compassion and anger, but Ryou can't hear them anymore.

-8-

"Stay away from him," Malik practically begs.

"I can't," Ryou says, no longer afraid to admit it.

"I know you can't," Malik snaps bitterly, "But could you at least try?"

Ryou looks away.

"For me?"

Ryou gets off the train.

-9-

"You knew."

Ryou glares, shaking, trembling.

"You knew I could have been..." he trails off, not daring to say it.

"You could have what?" Bakura sneers.

"Been happy!" Ryou shouts, "I could have been happy with him."

Bakura snorts.

"You don't love him."

(He doesn't sound sure, though.)

Ryou stares at the place where Malik left, hoping with every inch of his being that he'll come back.

"It's time to go," Bakura snarls, stepping closer.

Ryou closes his eyes.

Love.

How naïve. How stupid.

(And it was love that started this mess, only fitting if it ended it…)

He turns around and faces Bakura.

"Then let's go."

-10-

Ryou clings to Bakura.

For the last time.

-11-

Midnight passes between them without another word.

-1-

Ryou awakes with a start, happy to find that his nightmare has ended.

(The nightmares plague him often, vivid images of the blood slipping out of his throat…and Bakura…)

Bakura.

He touches the bruises on his arm. They sting.

(Ryou's more disgusted then anything. He couldn't land one punch on Bakura.)

Wearily, he pushes himself out of bed. He needs to get ready for work. There were cases to be solved, people to find, and of course Malik…

Ryou does nothing less than a full body twitch. How could he ever explain this (them, more accurately) to Malik?

Goodness, he couldn't even explain this to himself…

He sighs, clutches his head, and heads for the bathroom regardless. There was work to be done.

-2-

"You look like hell, Ryou. I mean, more than you usually do."

He says nothing.

(Ryou has used up all his responses to that.)

"We got into a fight," Ryou says simply.

He fades away then. Ryou doesn't want to hear about that girl. He's so sick of her.

-3-

They are seated next to each other, but the distance between them is great.

"Hey," Malik says, painfully slow, the way he always sounds when he's sorry.

("Sorry.")

"Yes?" Ryou says softly, even though they are the only passengers on the train.

"I didn't mean what I said," Malik pauses and looks away, "About Amane."

(Liar. You did. You mean it now more than ever.)

"It's alright. I'm not angry."

Malik relaxes a bit. He peeks over Ryou's shoulder at the landscape.

"Sure brings back old times, doesn't it?" Malik nudges Ryou, smiling as much as Malik can.

But there is something hidden within Malik's eyes, a deep hurt. A pain.

Ryou doesn't really care. He can't save this girl. He can't save Malik. He can't save himself.

(He couldn't even save Amane, all those years ago, when there had been a chance…)

The remnants of Domino fade away as the train picks up speed.

"Yeah," Ryou agrees, without a trace of humor, "Old times."

-4-

"I told you, I don't know anything about a little girl," says the woman, refusing to meet their eyes.

"You're lying," Malik says coldly. He stuffs his hand in his pocket.

Ryou eyes narrow. Of course she was lying, but why on Earth would Malik ever reach for his gun?

The...escort's eyes widen. She gets it.

"Okay, okay, look. I heard that MJ and his girls were gone all yesterday, and now that they're back they're refusing any clients. I mean, I don't know anything – got that, I don't know a damn thing – but Celia told me that they're hiding something. Their place is over there on the corner of fifth and central."

Malik takes off running.

"Hey wait! You can't tell anyone that I told you!" she cries.

Ryou starts to run too.

"Promise!" she calls out, and Ryou sees fear burning deep in her eyes.

He stops.

"Promise," he tells her, then runs off to follow Malik.

By the time Ryou catches up with Malik, it's too late. He smells it already.

The death.

"No," Ryou whispers.

Malik, slowly, (horrified) opens the lid to a dumpster.

The unbearable stench punches them both, causing them to fall back.

Malik, eyes hardening, reaches in and pulls the girl out.

(Ryou begins to tremble.)

She's disgusting. The few fragments of clothes left on her are torn, bloody and stained. Her long blonde hair has tangled bits of dirt and trash matted in. Her eyes are still open.

(Bright, emerald green.)

Ryou vomits.

-5-

The walk back to the train station is a grim one. It always is. Malik has the girl nestled in his arms. She smells of sweat and death.

The lost souls stare up at them, whisper, scowl, cry for help. Ryou glares at them. He hates them all. He might even hate them more than he hates himself.

They round a corner, and funnel deep into an alley. Ryou, with ease (ease that comes from years of practice) glances to the side.

In the shadows, he sees him. Confident. Smirking. Watching him with hungry eyes.

Before, he would have been invisible, cloaked in his shadows. But now...

(...now...)

He doesn't even try to hide anymore.

Ryou doesn't look at him though; he (still) doesn't want Malik to see.

"You alright?" Malik asks (though Malik himself is shaken to the core.)

The figure smirks.

"I'm fine."

-6-

"There was nothing we could do," Ryou assures Malik as he places the girl's dead body on the train. A special compartment is used just for these occasions.

"I know," Malik snaps.

-7-

"Ryou," Malik says, his voice a mixture between coo and whisper.

Ryou freezes.

"Don't say it," Ryou pleads (he's had to see day after day…)

"Damn it, Ryou! We can't just ignore this! She looks just like Amane and you know it."

"So?" Ryou hisses.

"So!" Malik yells, "I'm sick of having to walk on eggshells around you. I can't even say her name without you completely shutting down! Do you think that's how she would have wanted to be remembered?"

"You don't know anything," Ryou seethes, sinking into his seat.

Malik's posture stiffens.

"I don't?" he snorts, hiding his hurt.

(Shame washes over Ryou.)

"She was just as much my sister as she was yours."

-8-

His apartment is speeding towards him. Ryou knows who will be waiting for him.

The train comes to a screeching stop.

Ryou turns towards Malik, who is fuming.

"Please don't leave me," he whispers.

"What?" snaps Malik.

Ryou's eyes widen. He's been trying to say that for so long; he didn't even believe it was possible to admit.

"I - I," Ryou fumbles, not knowing what to do, how to break the pattern, "I don't want to go home, by myself. Come…come with me."

Ryou looks up, hoping for salvation.

Malik punches him in the face.

"Stop it, just stop it!" Malik shouts, and Ryou, from the ground, can see him shaking.

(Have I done this to him?)

"I'm not lying," Ryou says pathetically, not knowing what to do.

"I know you're not lying! That's the worst part! Every second of every day you're an entirely different person."

Ryou has never heard Malik so angry. No sarcasm, no bitterness, just rage.

"I'm sorry," Ryou says, "I just need you. Malik I…"

"Don't you say it, don't you dare say it! God, Ryou – you're so stupid! I love you, okay? I've always loved you!" he screams, eyes blazing, "But I can't take this anymore. The more I look at you, the more it makes me sick and angry – and I don't know why! It's driving me insane. You! You are driving me insane."

Ryou's crying again. For the first time in five years.

Malik looks at him with disgust.

"Consider this my resignation."

The train doors slam shut, leaving Ryou alone with his personal demon.

-9-

The train zips away with Malik, leaving Ryou all alone.

At least for a moment.

"Hello, Ryou."

A small chuckle fills the air. It's low and threatening and deeply amused. The hairs on the back of Ryou's neck stand straight up.

(And he begins to tremble.)

"Are you going to come quietly today?" asks Bakura, sauntering out from the shadows.

He's wearing a smirk, but the insanity burns brightly in his eyes.

("Your eyes will look just like mine soon enough. You haven't forgotten that, have you?")

"No."

It is spoken softly, barely above a whisper, but the certainty is clear.

Bakura looks at him disbelievingly. After the million yesterdays of the bruises (which still shine brightly on his skin) and the one thousand todays of passiveness, Ryou finally decides to resist.

"No," He repeats, and turns around to the face the demon. His demon.

Bakura closes his eyes, crosses his arms and laughs.

When he opens them, there is nothing behind them but rage.

"I see you have learned nothing."

Ryou glares, and delivers the first blow.

-10-

"It hurts, doesn't?" Bakura asks.

"What?" Ryou says, trembling. (In the pit of his stomach, something is wrong.)

"Seeing Malik everyday – the same day, over and over – and he doesn't even notice. It must be enough to drive a person crazy…"

The gravity of those words sets in. Ryou rips himself from Bakura's arms.

"You know…?!" Ryou gasps, torn between pure joy and utter horror.

Bakura's eyes are cold.

"I know."

Ryou starts laughing. It's loud and jovial, and…

He touches his cheek. Tears. Wet and sloppy, running down his face.

"We can break it then, right?" Ryou says, wiping away the tears that keep coming, "We can stop this! We can change it!"

Bakura shakes his head.

"You're too young. Too naïve. There is no breaking this," Bakura says, eyes aflame, "I made sure of it."

Ryou's heart stops beating.

"What?"

(His voice cracks to an unbearable degree.)

Bakura rises from his chair.

"I did this. I stopped tomorrow from ever happening."

The color drains from Ryou's face. He trembles.

"No…that's not…possible."

Bakura laughs.

"Oh, it's very possible," he sneers, "It's endless."

The tears slide down Ryou's face. He can't even feel them anymore. He can't feel anything.

"But…why?" Ryou moans, "Why are you doing something this awful to me?"

Bakura laughs again. But it's different. Before, his laugh was terrifying, but controlled. But this, this was just…unhinged.

"To you? TO YOU! I did this for you! Can you not understand – can you not remember? I had to watch you die! Over and over and over again. You stupid, pathetic little boy, don't you get it? Since all others refuse us mercy…this…this was the only way I could save you…"

Bakura reaches out for him.

(But Ryou's already gone.)

-11-

"Did I ever tell you why Malik and I created our business?" Ryou says, voice wistful.

"Yes. Your sister," Bakura pauses, "A long time ago."

Amane. She's so far away now.

"Other than that."

Bakura looks at him, curious. Maybe even frightened.

"No."

"I wanted to help people. I wanted to stop people from ever feeling the hurt I did. It was a noble cause, don't you think?"

Ryou's voice breaks and he holds back tears.

"It was your skewed sense of nobility that got you murdered in the first place," snarls Bakura, clutching onto Ryou tighter.

"You knew, didn't you? All this time. About Malik?" Ryou's voice betrays no emotion.

"Of course. It wasn't hard to tell."

"Not that," Ryou pauses, "You knew he'd end up hating me."

Bakura's eyes narrow.

He snorts.

"Well, you ended up hating me, didn't you?"

Ryou opens his mouth to tell him that's different, but then he realizes it's not.

It's not different at all.

"I don't hate you."

(Ryou's not sure who that comment is for, or if it's honest.)

"You're a bad liar," Bakura whispers.

Ryou says nothing to that, and buries his hands in his pockets.

"It was selfish, though," he says coldly, "What you did to me."

"I am an entirely selfish being," Bakura snaps back.

A pause. The always binding silence.

"I'm not," Ryou whispers.

He closes his eyes.

(Ryou prays for mercy.)

He whips the gun out of his pocket so fast that Bakura doesn't even react for a couple of seconds.

Then he chuckles.

"Are you going to kill me?" he asks, voice dark and cold, "I'll just be here when you wake up. I'll always be here. You can't change that, Ryou."

"I know."

Bakura's eyebrows furrow, "Then what–"

The gun is jammed against the side of Ryou's head.

(He wasn't that stupid. He finally figured it out. This was always his loop, his misery…so his end…would save everyone…)

"Ryou, don't!"

He pulls the trigger.

-12-


A/N Well, that was a dark spin on the quote, right? If you need any clarification, feel free to ask in your review! Seriously. I came up with so much backstory for this, I don't think there is a question I can't awnser. Except the ending. I prefer it ambigious.

Reviews make me '=DDDD'!