A/N Takes place just before Millennium World.


In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future. ~ Alex Haley


"Tell me about your sister."

They are alike in that regard, the thief and the spirit. Commanding. It radiates of their presence, like royalty.

(Ryou is both insignificant and unable to resist.)

But the thief's words are warmer than the spirit's, spoken hushed and passionate.

Perhaps it's not fair, Ryou thinks as the thief scoops him into his gold covered arms, to compare them. They're different. (The same way the spirit and I are different – but that thought goes unnoted, dissolves into the emptiness of Ryou's mind.)

"Why?" Ryou asks. He knows the reason, he dreams, no matter how hard the spirit fights to keep the ghosts contained. The question is directed at the thief asking, when he could simply take.

The thief intertwines their fingers.

"Because you're mine, right? So your family is my family, too."

The thief pulls Ryou in closer, so close that Ryou can smell the ash from the never-ending fire on him. It's not particularly bad (or real, to be honest), so he breaths in deep yet again.

He's just another possession to both the thief and the spirit, not a person. The truth leaves a bitter tang in his mouth, but at least right here – right now – the thief treats him kindly. Or as close to kind as any of them can get.

On cue, the thief leans in and rests his head on Ryou's shoulder.

Ryou relaxes into the touch. Because honestly – why not? He has nothing left to lose – no family left to lose. Mother and Amane are dead, Yuugi will hate him for this (how could he not?), his father hates him too, even if he denies it.

Ryou only has the ring and his name.

(And both those things belong to the spirit now, anyway.)

Hot breath on his neck wakes him out of his daze.

"Tell me, landlord," the thief whispers, caressing him, "I want to know."


A/N Reviews shall be huggled!