The story is gemshipping i.e. Ryou x Thief King Bakura It's also supposed to be what happens after the series so I've tried to keep facts as accurate as possible.

A warning to anyone who is a big fan of Yugi – he will be the villain in this fic. Sorry if you don't like. Yugi doesn't really appear much so it isn't like I bash him all the time though. He just isn't portrayed in a very good light.

This was actually written quite awhile ago so it isn't my best but i thought i should put it up for Christmas.

A Very Bakura Christmas

Chapter 1

Ryou sighed as he stared out of the window. Just ten more minutes and then school would be finished for the holidays. Ryou knew he should be excited, it was nearly Christmas, but he just couldn't seem to motivate himself to care. That seemed to be happening a lot lately.

Ryou turned away from the window to see what the rest of the class was doing. The teacher had given up on trying to teach them anything and had left them to their own devices.

Joey, Tristan and Duke were arguing (as usual), Yugi and Téa were talking quietly, Kaiba was absent (again), and Malik was sitting at the back reading. Yes, Malik, Ishizu and Rishid had all returned to Domino after…That Day.

It was the first time Malik had ever attended school and therefore – after once being the leader of an international crime organization – had a problem with authority. Needless to say, he had received many detentions for balking back or arguing with the teachers.

Ryou smiled to himself as he shifted his position to see what Malik was reading. Behind the book he was apparently reading was the X rated Manga that the teacher had confiscated last week. Looked like Malik had been poking about in the teacher's drawers again.

Sensing somebody watching him, Malik looked up. When he saw it was Ryou he relaxed and motioned him over. He watched as the boy stood up and made his way over to the desk next to him.

Ryou was Malik's best friend and vice versa. Malik was one of the only people that Ryou could open up to. Because they both had dark pasts that they'd rather not think about, they felt that they understood each other more than anyone else. That was why they always confided in each other and told each other everything.

Well, nearly everything. There was one secret that Ryou was unwilling to share.

"Hey Ryou! Ready for the holidays?" Malik asked cheerfully. Ryou nodded and gave Malik a small smile. "Personally I can't wait! This'll be the first time I've ever celebrated Christmas. You know – living underground and all," Malik continued, still cheerful.

"If this is your first Christmas, how do you know about it?" Ryou asked.

"Seto told my sister about all the traditions when they went on one of their 'coffee meetings'," Malik said, rolling his eyes. "Seriously, I don't know why they can't just admit that they're dating?"

"Maybe it's because they're both too proud?" Ryou suggested. "Or maybe it's because Kaiba knows that Joey will laugh himself silly when he finds out?"

"Hmm…Those are both valid reasons," Malik said in a mock-thoughtful voice. Ryou gave Malik a genuine smile, which made Malik smile back. "So Ryou, are you going to the New Year Eve's party at the Kame Game Shop?"

"I didn't think it was optional," Ryou said, suddenly looking gloomy again.

"Of course it's optional," Malik said, looking at Ryou strangely.

Ryou just shrugged and Malik let the subject drop. Ever since the Pharaoh had left for the Afterlife a few months ago Ryou had been acting coldly towards Yugi. Of course, Ryou being the shy, quiet boy that he was, it was hard to notice such a change.

But Malik had noticed. Malik tried not to dwell on it – since Ryou would tell him why if he wanted to – but sometimes he wondered if this all had something to do with the loss of the Millennium Ring and the spirit inside it.

"So, what are you doing Christmas Day?" Malik asked, trying to restart the conversation.

"I don't know. I haven't talked to my father in a while, so I don't know whether or not he's going to be coming home," Ryou said, still gloomy.

"You know," Malik said gently, "if you wanted to you could always spend Christmas with us."

A small smile crept onto Ryou's face. "Thank you Malik," he said softly.

Suddenly the bell rang, and the sound of students showing their appreciation ended any chance of continuing the conversation. Ryou walked back over to his desk and began to put his things into his bag. He did this slowly, not wanting to get caught up in the stampede of students desperate to escape the school's evil clutches.

Anyway, it wasn't like he had anything to look forward to at home. He caught Malik waving goodbye and he waved back as the Egyptian exited the room.

When everyone else had left, Ryou made his way back to his two bed-roomed apartment. Ryou sighed as he dragged his feet on the pavement. He didn't like being alone in the apartment – it brought back too many memories.

It had been a few months since the Millennium Items had been destroyed and the spirits had left for the Afterlife, and during those few months Ryou had made a surprising discovery. He missed Bakura. Even though the thief had physically and mentally abused him, he still missed him.

At first he'd been glad that he didn't have to worry about the psycho in his head taking over and killing his friends. But then he slowly began to realize that without Bakura he was alone.

Sure, he had friends, but his friends could only stay with him for so long – they had to go home to their families at the end of the day. Ryou only had his father, who was an archaeologist and always away – therefore he was alone. And the one he blamed for this feeling of loneliness was Yugi. He and the Pharaoh were the ones who had defeated Bakura and sent him away.

Ryou pulled out his keys as he neared the apartment door. After going inside and removing his shoes, Ryou automatically walked over to the CD player and switched it on. It was too quiet – Ryou needed noise to distract him from the terrible emptiness.

That done Ryou went and changed out of his school uniform, before falling back onto his bed. Ryou stayed there, eyes closed, listening to the music, waiting for the void within his heart to be filled.

"You brat!" A hand connected with Ryou's face and he fell to the floor. "What have I told you about taking off the Ring?!"

Ryou whimpered and curled up to try and protect himself. "I had to take it off. Yugi would've seen it when we changed for PE and gotten suspicious."

The Spirit of the Ring considered this for a minute. "Yes, that meddling little brat would most likely go snitch on us to the Pharaoh, who would automatically assume the worst. Good thinking Yadonushi." Bakura gave Ryou a pat on the head (like you would give an obedient dog) before disappearing back into the Ring.

Slowly Ryou awoke from his dream/memory. He sat up and began to reflect on the memory. It had been neither good nor bad. At the time it had definitely been bad – he'd been terrified of Bakura. But now, it didn't seem as terrible. Sure, he'd been slapped, but he'd also been complimented. That was something that didn't happen too often.

Ryou got up and got dressed in his old jeans, a stripped shirt that looked like the one he'd worn at Battle City, and a soft light blue jumper. He then headed towards the kitchen to make breakfast.

As soon as he had finished eating, the doorbell rang. Ryou got up and opened the door, wondering who it could be. It was the postman and in his hand was a medium sized package. "Delivery for Mr Bakura," he said reasonably cheerfully.

"I'm Mr Bakura," Ryou replied, internally wincing at the use of his yami's name.

"Sign here please," the postman said, holding out a clipboard.

Ryou signed the paper and took the package before closing the door. He looked at the package distrustfully. He'd learned from experience that even if something looks innocent that doesn't actually mean that it is.

He walked over to the table and set the package down. Ryou took a deep breath before opening it and revealing a letter and something heavily wrapped in bubble wrap. Ryou picked up the letter and looked to the bottom to find out who had written it. To his amazement it was from his father. He quickly moved back to the top of the letter and began to read.

Dear Ryou

Let me start off by saying that I regrettably won't be home for Christmas. The team is way behind schedule and my employers say that we can't take a break until the dig is complete.

I'm sorry that I've left it so late to tell you, I hope that you'll be able to spend Christmas with one of your friends.

Anyway, to compensate foe this I've sent you a special present. It's called a Miracle Token. The Ancient Egyptians once used them to grant their wishes. The only catch was that the wish had to be pure and unselfish. It's a very rare find, almost as rare as that golden ring I found in the bazaar.

I hope your wish comes true,

Merry Christmas

Love Daddy

Ryou sighed as he finished reading the letter. "It grants the owner a wish?" he asked out loud. "I bet it'll misinterpret anything I ask for and just ruin my life further."

Still, his hand reached for the wrapped object and he soon found that there were no more layers left to remove. In his hand was a large, round, silver coin, with the eye of Horous in the centre. Ryou stared at the coin. Miracle Token? Could it really grant his wish?

Ryou was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts by the phone ringing. He shoved the coin into his pocket and rushed to the phone. "Hello, Ryou speaking."

"Hey Ryou!"

Ryou smiled as he recognized that the voice belonged to Malik. "Good Morning Malik, what's happening?"

"Not much. I'm calling to invite you to a movie marathon at Yugi's."

Ryou nibbled on his bottom lip as he considered the proposal. Malik sensed his friend's hesitation and sighed. "Please come Ryou, it won't be the same without you!" Malik pleaded. "If you don't come then I'll have to bring Rishid with me since my dear sister still doesn't trust me."

Ryou shook his head. It was true that Ishizu made Malik go to places with Rishid, but that was happening less and less lately. Malik was able to control himself better now and so had more freedom. He was just trying to make Ryou feel so guilty that he gave in.

"I guess I could come…" Ryou said slowly. Malik cheered. "But we're walking – no motorcycle."

"But Ryooooouuuuu," Malik whined. "I never get to ride my motorbike anymore."

"I don't care; I refuse to go near that thing."

"Fine, I'll meet you at the games store," Malik said sulkily before he hung up.

Ryou also hung up and grabbed his coat, hat, gloves, scarf; before heading out the door, the magical object in his pocket forgotten.

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