thoughts

"speech"

Okay Ryou, you can do this. It's simple. Just knock on the door. Come on, what's the worst that could happen? It's not like he's going to kill you or anything. He might get a bit irritated but he'll get over it. Just do it.' Ryou raised his fist, but it just hung there, frozen in mid-air. 'Well that's a start I suppose.' He sighed. 'Why is this so difficult? It's a simple hand movement! No wonder he calls you a baby all the time. You don't even have the courage to knock on his door. Just do it already! This is the easy part. If you can't do it for yourself then do it for him. Just...

Before he knew it, he had taken a step forward and made three soft knocks on Bakura's door.

"What?" came the harsh reply from the other side.

"Um, it's me."

"Obviously. What do you want?"

"Um, I... I just need to talk to you about something."

After about twenty seconds Bakura opened the door, visibly annoyed that his hikari had interrupted him.

Oh great, Ryou thought, I haven't even started talking yet and he already looks irritated.

"Make it quick. I don't have time to stand around and chat."

Ryou wanted to point out that he probably wasn't doing anything important anyway, but he held his tongue considering he was lucky his yami had even opened the door. "Well... That's just the thing, 'Kura. You never stand around and chat. You never chat with anyone. Heck, we don't even talk on a regular basis and we live in the same house! You're just so... seclusive."

Bakura raised an eyebrow. He wasn't expecting this.

Ryou kept going. "It just doesn't seem right for you to be so... alone. I think you should get out more. You know, socialize. Maybe you should hang out with us. It would be good for you," he said with a smile.

Bakura stared incredulously at his former host. "Tell me you're not serious."

"I am, actually. I'm very concerned—"

"I don't need your concern! Listen closely, boy. Hell will freeze over before I waste my time with those brats!"

Ryou jumped at the sudden increase in volume of his yami's voice. Suddenly the hallway seemed much smaller than it actually was.

"You already force me to go to that retched, useless place you call school, and now you're suggesting that I 'get out' and 'socialize'? Have you completely lost your mind?!"

"Ba-Bakura I just think it would be go—"

Bakura picked him up by his collar. "I don't give a damn what you think you idiot! No one knows what's good for me, especially not you! If I want to spend my time by myself, it's nobody's bloody business but mine." He dropped his frightened hikari and turned to go back into his room. "Now leave me alone."

"But Bakura I—"

He was cut off by the door being slammed in his face. He sighed sadly. 'We shared a body for several years. I know what's good for you better than anyone, even you.'

Leaving his dark half to the privacy of his room, he headed for his own. Well, I guess that went better than it could have. He had gotten his point across, and that was enough for him. Whether he liked it or not, Bakura had a soft spot for him, so he knew his request had not fallen on deaf ears. It might take a long time, a really long time, but he'll come around. And I won't stop pressing the issue until he does. Feeling somewhat satisfied, he got ready to go to sleep.

In his room, Bakura was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. Ryou's words echoed in his head. Foolish boy. I've been alone practically all my life, and that's the way I like it. I don't need to 'socialize' and certainly not with those idiots he hangs out with. How dare he even suggest such a thing! I've never wanted nor needed friends and I never will. Satisfied with this thought, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The next morning...

"Aaaah! Ah!"

Ryou's eyes flew open at the sound of his yami's outcry. He jumped out of bed and sprinted down the hall. "Bakura? Are you okay?" There was no reply. Without knocking, he threw open the door to Bakura's room. The former King of Thieves was sitting up in bed staring at the wall in bewilderment. He looked almost... no. That couldn't be. He was practically the embodiment of fear itself. Was it even possible for him to be afraid? "'Kura?"

"How..."

"How what, 'Kura?" he said gently.

"How did I get back here?"

Ryou frowned. "You left?"

"I don't know. I just opened my eyes and I was back here. Not that I'm complaining..." His voice was uncharacteristically soft.

"You opened your eyes... Oh," Ryou said, realizing what was going on. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"A dream? That was a dream?" Bakura looked down at his hands. 'It felt so real...'

This was the most vulnerable Ryou had ever seen his yami look. His skin was much paler than it normally was (if that was possible) and he was breathing hard like he had been running or something. It was almost disturbing to see Bakura like this. He was usually so calm and fearless and in control. "What was your dream about?"

This seemed to break him out of his daze. When he turned to look at Ryou he seemed back to normal. "It's none of your business."

"Sorry, I just wanted to help..."

"When have I ever needed your help?"

Multiple occasions came up in Ryou's mind, but he didn't voice them. "Well are you sure you're okay?"

"Of course I'm okay. Just leave me alone."

"Bakura..."

"Get out before I throw you out."

Knowing he was dead serious, Ryou sighed and stood up. "Well I guess I'll go make breakfast then."

"Hmph," was all he got in reply.

He left the room, closing the door softly. I wonder what that was about? This incident caused him to become even more concerned about his yami.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Aaaah!"

Again? Ryou looked at the wall clock. 2:32 am. He got out of bed and ran to Bakura's room to find him in the same state he was in the morning before. "Are you okay?" he asked, putting a hand on Bakura's shoulder to comfort him.

Shrugging it off, he replied, "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

He sighed. "Yes, I'm fine, hikari. Go back to sleep."

Unlike most people, Bakura was much nicer when he was sleepy. "Okay," Ryou said, walking away, "Well, just call me if you need anything." He was almost to the door when he heard Bakura stand up.

"I'm going for a walk," he announced. Stepping past Ryou, he started down the hall.

"But it's two o'clock in the morning..." he said, following right behind him.

"And?"

Ryou watched Bakura pick up his long black trench coat from the couch and put it on. "Well, be careful," he said as his yami opened the front door. Bakura shot him a 'Seriously?' look and stepped out into the darkness.

Hello ^_^ This is my first story on Fanfiction and I'd really appreciate constructive criticism (or whatever it's called). REVIEW! … Sorry, I kinda freaked out xD but anyways, the more reviews I get the faster I'll update! Let me know what you think! I'll only continue the story if I get 7 or more positive reviews. And please let me know if you find any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes that spell check didn't catch. Thanks!(: