Author's Notes: This is written by Anei Aikouka and no, I do not own Yugioh. If I did the show would be too depressing for words. Or too fluffy.

"Don't go," pleaded a soft voice from the bed as Bakura threw the last of his things into a suitcase.

"You should be glad I'm leaving. Now there won't be anyone to interfere with your precious freedom." Bakura sneered and swept out of the room.

"I'd rather have you than freedom." Ryou's whisper passed unheard by anyone but himself. The only answer he received was the sound of the front door slamming. He was left alone in an empty house without even his yami's company.

Flashback

"You never let me do anything for myself!" Ryou yelled at Bakura in a rare display of defiance. "Everything I do you have to approve first and I can't do anything that you deem unnecessary!! You always have to be in control! Stop it!! Why can't you just leave me alone!!!?" His voice had been rising steadily and he was practically shrieking as he reached the end of his tirade.

"Are you quite finished?" Bakura's eyes were hooded dangerously and he did not sound happy. Ryou shuddered at the sound of it and nodded slowly, rage gone, vanished inside a mass of fear. "For your answer you did ask for it remember? I gave you a choice between handing over control to me and suffering the effects of my temper. You chose to give me control. And now you complain that I have taken it? Grow up child."

"I am not a child and I can't grow up if you won't let me!" All of his anger came pouring back into him at his yami's words. "I hate you!! Why won't you just get out of my life!?"

Bakura just sneered at him before disappearing back into his soul room. The fire vanished from Ryou's mind and he collapsed on the floor. His yami was right; giving over control was infinitely preferable to living like Malik, as a target for his yami's wrath and nothing more. He just got so fed up with it sometimes.

Ryou sighed, standing up and moving downstairs to make dinner for two.

End Flashback

He hadn't meant what he'd said. He never really wanted to lose his yami no matter what he'd done. And now he couldn't feel the constant reassuring presence in the back of his mind. It had always made him feel safe and at home no matter where he was. His yami would be there too so he was never completely alone. Until now. Deserted by those he never thought to lose he turned his face to the wall and wept uncontrollably.