Millennium: So, this one is a Tender-central story to go with DDBN. I was wanting to write one for each pair. Next will be Bronze! I love those crazy Egyptians. Oh, and I just realized that I timed this to where Yami/Atemu left in May right before Yugi's 19th birthday. So this is starting in November.

Love: Yeah, yeah. So, obviously, this one centers on Ryou and Bakura. A lot of the beginning will be their thoughts on stuff, so yeah. Before the link and lovey-dovey stuff, anyway.

Ryou: Oh, come on already. Millennium doesn't own any of YGO, yeah. If she did, the relationships would be canon.

Bakura: Yes, they would, Hikari. *sly smile*

Millennium/Love: ON WITH THE STORY!

FYI: thinking /yami mind link/ \hikari mind link\ */both at same time/*

It's really been six months? Well, whatever. Just another 'friend' gone. Not like anyone stays around anymore. Not since Amane and Mom died. Even Dad took off after that. Probably cuz I look so much like Mom. Amane looked like him. Oh well, nothing new. Ryou was definitely beginning to think no one would ever stick around. After his mother and sister died in a car accident when he was a child, his father had been gone more and more on archaeological trips over the years. Now, he was only home for maybe a week or two a year, though he always sent money and called occasionally. I mostly hang out with Yugi cuz he understands. He gets the loneliness in my mind without my darker half. It's funny, though, how much everyone else seems to think that was me. NOT. Ugh, they are such bloody idiots. Although, at the last moment, Bakura actually sounded as if he regretted what he had done. For a moment. Oh well, time for work. Helping Yugi and Mr. Mutou really helps keep my mind off it. And Dad still sends money, so the fact that I don't get paid much doesn't matter. Ryou had been working at the Kame Game Shop for a few months now. School season could actually make it busier in the shop because of all the students back from visiting family. High-school students loved Duel Monsters. And it was the shop that Yugi Mutou, King of Games, worked at and co-owned with his family.

"Konnichiwa, Yugi. How are you today?" Ryou was always at least somewhat worried about the other 19-year-old. He had yet to come out of his depression following the departure of all the darks. Ryou suspected the shorter young man had been in love with the former Pharaoh, though he had never asked. It just wasn't polite to bring that kind of thing up. "Ohayo, Ryou. I'm about the same as always, I suppose. Doing okay." Liar. You want to join the Pharaoh even more than I want to join the Thief King. Wait! Did I just think that? Ryou had to admit to himself that he missed Bakura. But he really just wanted to see his sister and mother again. Who was he kidding? He wanted to see them all.

The day passed without any real thrills. Just another day. Ok. Time to go… What? Ryou stopped when he heard a quiet noise. He had almost missed it. Following the sound, he found Yugi crying quietly in the living room of their attached home. "Yugi?" Yugi looked up, startled. "Gomen. I'm so pathetic. I just miss him so much. He understood me in a way that no one else does. And he didn't care that I'm weak and pathetic without him." Ryou was surprised. He hadn't realized just how bad it really was. "You're not weak, Yugi. You've made it so far. I miss Bakura too. It's harder for us, because we had some connection with our darks, unlike Malik. You even more than me. You'll get through. You've got all of us still. Even Kaiba." Yugi sniffed, looking at his friend. "You're right, Ryou. I can do this." Ryou knew the look in his eyes said he just wanted to end this conversation. He didn't really hear anyone anymore.

"Okay, Yugi. Let's finish cleaning up in the shop and then we can hang out at the arcade or something. You can even call your friends if you want." Ryou just wanted to get his friend's mind off his pain, if only for a little while. I worry he's going to do something drastic if we don't watch him. I know he at least used to cut. I've seen the scars on his arms, even if he doesn't know it. Did he quit for Atemu? I doubt the Pharaoh liked that idea. As soon as they started, Yugi spoke. "You know, I know you guys worry I'm gonna do something like try to kill myself. I'm not going to. I told Yami, well Atemu, that I would try to keep going for him. I even quit cutting for him. I know you've noticed the scars I have. You treat me a little different than everyone else. Tea's the only other one who know." Ryou's jaw dropped. "You really notice things don't you?" Yugi smiled sadly. "I've always been on the outside looking in, so yeah. I can read people as well as Kaiba. Hard to believe, but I knew he would end up with Joey. Saw that coming a mile away. I know how Joey is when he likes someone, and Kaiba isn't that hard to read. You loved Bakura in some way too, right?" Ryou just stared at him. How could he know that? I pride myself on hiding what I'm feeling. I'm better at it than Kaiba is! Yugi laughed. "I know, you didn't expect that. I'm that good. You are the only person I've ever met that is actually hard to figure out. It took me a while for sure."

"Well, I'm surprised for sure. I didn't think anyone paid enough attention to tell, and I'm pretty good at hiding my thoughts. Most people can't read me." Ryou had to chuckle. Leave it to the Pharaoh's mini to figure me out. Oh well. Doesn't bloody matter anyway. "Yes, I loved him. He was stronger than I am and completely fearless most of the time. It's funny, but I actually realized it right before he disappeared. I could feel his remorse. I think Zorc might have really been the one who was so cruel. Bakura had a bloody awful childhood and all, but I don't think he was really a sociopath or anything. I think he was confused and angry. Kind of like us, Yugi." Ryou wasn't sure how much he should reveal. "Well, it may not make sense, but love never does, right Ryou? I mean, Atemu wasn't that nice to me at first. I blacked out too in the beginning… Actually until Duelist Kingdom really. At first, Atemu scared me. He was pretty dark at first too. But I guess 5000 years trapped alone would do that to you. He had no contact with anyone for that entire time. I guess he lost his sense of being a person by the time I finished the Puzzle. I had to kind of find the Pharaoh inside his mind."

By then, the two young men had finished straightening up the shop and sweeping the floor. "Ready for some time out, Yugi? My treat, if you want to hit the arcade or something. There's a couple good movies playing too." Yugi thought for a minute. "You want to see that new one, After Earth? It looks really good." Agreeing, they left to see the movie. Ryou was glad that Yugi wasn't so down anymore.

Millennium: Goshikku Hime wa Yami-san, that's for you. Ryou and Yugi are friends. I just didn't show it much in the other story. Winged Sapphire Wolf, whatcha think? This one's probably gonna be short too. It's a companion to DDBN, so yeah. Timeline is roughly the same. Let me know what you think. Also, Tender is the main one here. It WILL happen. Just not until like Chapter 2 (end) or 3.