by WSJ

*grins* Hi y'all! Sorry this is taking soooo long, but I've been diligently working on A Yami of my Own, my Joey-centered fanfic (which is now finished!!!!!!!!) and it's sequel, Camelot, which is mostly Ryou-cantered. Go read them? Please? *bats eyelashes*

()()()()()

I felt Bakura's stare on me, and for all conventional purposes, I stared back. The fact that I couldn't actually see what I was staring at was a technicallity.

The trance was broken when down below Yugi again pounded on the door. "Ryou? Are you all right?!?"

Bakura shook himself and I knew he was scowling. "There's no way you can go out. I'll have to fool them."

I blinked. "You're actually offering to help me? And there's no way you'll be able to fool Yugi, let alone Yami!"

Bakura stepped toward me and I flinched away. But he didn't hit me like I'd expected him to. Instead he grabbed a lock of my blood-soaked hair and held it in front of my face, momentarily forgetting I couldn't see it. "You want your precious friend Yugi to see you like this?!?!? I swear, if you so much as move from this house I will do a lot worse then just blind you!"

I whimpered and scooted away, but he seemed suddenly not to notice, or care, as the reality of his own words hit him. "I..."

He snapped out of it, and I heard him pounding down the stairs, grabbing my coat and backpack from where I'd dropped it. The front door opened and then slammed shut and I strained to hear Yugi's voice.

"We'd better hurry, we're going to be really late. Did you oversleep Ryou?"

"Uh, yeah. I was up pretty late last night."

I could imagine Yugi's eyes widening. "Did Bakura do something to you? I could send Yami after him."

I had to stiffle a giggle at the knowledge that my oh so lovable yami was seething at that comment, but couldn't do anything about it without blowing our cover.

It was really his hide he was saving, I realised suddenly. If Yugi and Yami found out what he'd done to me, they'd skin him seven ways from center. I'd just get a lot of sympathy.

I didn't hear Bakura's answer to Yugi's question because they had passed too far out of earshot on their way to school.

I sighed and lay back against the pillows. What was I going to do now? It suddenly felt like a ten-ton weight had landed on my shoulders. What was I going to do? How was I going to get around, especially without Bakura here... I could fall down the stairs, or trip and hit my head on something...

I wished I could just stay in bed all day, then I wouldn't have to worry, but the rumbling of my stomach said something else.

I sighed and rolled over, feeling for the clock-radio on my bed-side table. I found it and snapped it on. Laying back, I listened to the music for a little while until the DJ came on and announced the time, since I couldn't see the clock. 10:07 AM. Wow, Yugi hadn't been kidding when he said they were going to be late.

Feeling carefully I found the edge of my bed and stood up unsteadily. My injured left arm dangled helplessly at my side. I started to take a slow step forward and tripped over the shoes I'd left laying there the night before.

I landed with an 'omph!' and sighed. "This is going to be difficult..."

I managed to find my way out to the hall extention of the phone and began to pray that Bakura still had my coat on as I dialed my cell phone, which I'd left in the pocket last night.

There was a click and a "Yeah, what do you want?" growled from the other end.

I sighed again. "Master, you're supposed to be me..."

Bakura sounded surprised. "Are you ok? How come you're calling me?"

I paused. "Are you somewhere you can talk?"

"Yeah. You caught my in-between classes. I'm hiding in a broom closet."

I stiffled a chuckle. "I'm hungrey but I can't get down to the kitchen. It's impossible. I need someone here with me to make sure I don't trip or anything."

Bakura seemed to think about this. "I can't leave school." he said. "Yugi's already suspicious enough as it is." He hesitated, but only for a second. "Call Malik. He's off school today, I think."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah. I can trust him and his other. They'll help you out." There was a click as my yami hung up.

Very uncharacteristically I cursed and pressed redial. "What?!?" Bakura practically yelled when he answered.

"You didn't give me Malik's number." I said meekly.

"We have it written around somewhere."

I felt my temper rising. I didn't need this. "Do you think I can find it, let alone read it?" I asked through clenched teeth.

He seemed a bit taken aback, but didn't say anything. "157-7809."

"Thanks." I answered curtly, and this time it was I who hung up first. Quickly I dialed in Malik's number before I forgot it.

"Hello, Ishtar residence, Isis speaking."

"Isis? Is Malik there? I need to talk to him."

Isis was surprised, to say the least. "Bakura?"

"No, Ryou."

"Oh, ok. I'll get him."

Several seconds later there was a click as Malik apparently picked up another extention. "'Lo?" He sounded sleepy.

I sighed. "Sorry, but I need some help."

He seemed to be trying to place my voice. "Ryou?"

"Yeah... Listen, can you come over?"

He was definately surprised. "This isn't one of Bakura's tricks, is it?"

"No. Please Malik, I'll explain when you get here."

"Sure... Should I leave the Rod at home?"

"Nah, Yami-Malik can come too."

"M'kay, be there soon." There was a click as he hung up.

~*~

That evening when Bakura stomped inside and threw Ryou's backpack down, he was surprised to see only Yami-Malik, who was lounging around the living room.

"Where are our others? Is Ryou ok?" Bakura asked.

Yami-Malik glanced up. "Ryou and Malik? Fine. They're in the shower."

Bakura face-faulted and sweatdropped. "I... Er... Didn't know Malik was like that. It's sure as hell that Ryou isn't..."

Yami-Malik blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Um... They're in the same shower?"

Yami-Malik, in all his bleached-blond density, finally got it. "Malik isn't gay, dimwit! They both have swimming trunks on! How else is Ryou supposed to get all that blood out of his hair?"

Yami-Malik's face hardened and his eyes narrowed slightly at his own words, as if they reminded him of something. He got up off the couch and strode over to Bakura, who stood there giving him a puzzled look. Then Yami-Malik, glaring daggers at his friend, slapped Bakura. Hard.

"What did you do to him?" the blond hissed, his nose bare inches from Bakura's.

The white-haired yami was taken aback, his hand laid absently on his stinging cheek. "What are you talking about?"

Yami-Malik's eyes narrowed further. "You know very well what I'm talking about. Healthy, fifteen-year-old boys don't suddenly go blind. And they sure don't have the will-power to torture themselves to the point of being as bad off as Ryou is."

Bakura, having recovered somewhat, just glared back. "How do you know? How are you so sure it isn't self-mutilation?"

"Because, my 'dear friend', some of those cuts, in fact, most of those cuts on Ryou's arm go all the way down to the bone. The bone Bakura. How could you do that to your own hikari? I know you and I aren't exactly known for our kindness, but what you did was wrong Bakura, even I can't deny that."

Bakura's knees felt weak. Yami-Malik was right. As much as he hated to admit it, he was right.

()()()()()

WSJ: ^.^ Hurrah! Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryou: -.-;; More pain and suffering for me...

WSJ: Hey, peoples, in honor of my birthday coming up (September 16!) I'm hosting a contest! *grins* Since I usually write depressive angst, the story is going to have to be a humurous one. Here's the rules:

1) Must be humor. ^^;; Duh!

2) No yaoi. You can hint at it for humor's sake, but nothing solid. I hate yaoi.

3) Must be PG-13 or under.

4) If it's Ryou or Jounouchi cenered, it's a plus, but it doesn't have to be.

5) Major! Somewhere in the story it must contain the line: Wincing slightly at the noice coming from within, Yugi peered around the doorframe. And/or An evil smile lighting his face, Yami-Malik reached for the can of whipped creame.

6) Must be posted by January 1, 2003.

7) You must have fun!!!!!!!!!!!

WSJ: ^_^ That's it! I hope you have fun! The winner will get a fanart from me of his/her character of choice, or a scene from their fic and a guest-appearance in one of my stories. The runner-up will get a guest-appearance in any of my up-coming stories, including Camelot, Visions of the Heart or Yu-Gi-Oh!: The College Years!

To register send me an e-mail or review the latest chapter of Visions of the Heart. You must include you author/authoress name, e-mail address, the name of your fic and a breif summery (if possible).

I hope you all have fun! Please send me (virtual) birthday presents! *crosses fingers* Fanart would be nice! (especially from A Yami of my Own. Plenty of original characters to work with! ^_~) Or just any little virtual trinket!!!!!!!!!!!

Sayanora!

God bless minna-san!