Yugi stood as Kaiba entered the waiting room.

"How is he? Can I see him?"

Kaiba's expression was as cold and unreadable as ever. "He's under sedation now. You'd do best to just go home, Yugi."

"Let me talk to him. Please, I won't take long--"

"I said he's unconscious. Damnit, don't--" He stopped and shook his head. "Fine, do what you want. I've got work to do." Without another word or so much as a backwards glance, he walked away.

-- o -- o -- o --

They were done.

Sweaty and hot, Ryou and Malik did not speak as they washed up and straightened their clothes and hair, trying to look presentable before they went back outside. Ryou hadn't intended to go all the way with Malik, but they'd lost control-- and track of time. They would soon regret their actions.

Once Ryou saw that Malik was ready, he opened the door and walked in a straight path to Bakura's bed. "BakuChan--"

Bakura was gone.

Ryou looked from the empty bed to the bay window, wide open, rain falling in and puddling on the floor.

"BAKURA!!"

Running, he reached the window at such a speed that if he'd not grabbed the sill in time, he would've fallen through. He frantically searched the ground below, but did not see Bakura's body or any sort of commotion.

Over his shoulder, he heard Malik say, "His clothes are gone."

"Where the FUCK is HE!?" Ryou charged out of the room, nearly mowing down Malik as he passed.

Malik followed, a tiny sweatdrop at his temple. Scary when he's angry...

"Hey!"

The nurse's head snapped up at the sound. Looking up, she saw Ryou marching to her desk, his face twisted in uncharacteristic anger.

He slapped both palms down on the cool, smooth desktop. "He's gone! How could you let him just walk out of here?"

"I'm sorry, what? Who?"

"Ugh, how incompetent are you?"

Malik felt sorry for the nurse, so he interjected. "Bakura San. He's not in his room."

Small rouge patches already painting her cheeks, the nurse gratefully dismissed Ryou and turned towards Malik. "Maybe he's in the bathroom...?"

"No, he's not in there. We need to find him. He's a danger to himself-- Ow!"

Ryou pulled Malik away. "Forget her. She's worthless. We'll find her ourselves."

"Ryou?"

"What?"

"Are you alright?"

"What? What-- Look, the most important thing right now is Bakura. He might hurt himself, or have another seizure. He doesn't even know you defeated Rebecca."

"Okay."

"What is it? Why are you giving me that look?"

"Sorry. I've just never seen you like this. Guess I didn't realize just how much you care about Bakura."

"Of course. You care about him too, right?"

Malik was surprised to hear Ryou say that, but soon he smiled and nodded.

"Now we have to think. Where would Bakura go?"

-- o -- o -- o --

The slack fingers tightened around Yugi's small hand.

Yugi looked up at Jouno's face to see his eyelids fluttering.

"Joey! I'm here, Joey! How are you feeling now? Are you hurting anywhere?"

"... Yug'..."

"Yes?"

"... I'm sorry..."

Purple eyes glittering with tears, Yugi shook his head and they fell free. "Don't worry about that, Jouno. You were taken over by an evil spirit. I know it wasn't you."

Jouno squeezed Yugi's hand a little tighter.

Yugi closed both hands around Jouno's, sniffling as he smiled, glad his best friend was finally back. "You'll be okay now."

Jouno managed a weak, sad smile. His eyes widened, and he tried to sit up, but his eyes rolled and he fell back against the pillows. "Oh, I'm spinning..." His arms strained against the leather straps around his wrists.

"It's the medication. Just relax, Joey, you need to rest."

"Where are my clothes?"

"You need to stay put."

"No, no, I mean, I had the--"

Yugi sucked in a huge gasp. "Millennium Items!"

-- o -- o -- o --

Bakura regarded the figure before him. "... You'll show me the way, right?"

Bakura chuckled. Sadamara didn't answer.

They were on Main Street, walking down the rain-soaked, uncrowded sidewalk. Sadamara was unaffected, but Bakura was being mercilessly pelted by the big fat rain drops. His clothes were soaked completely through and hung off of his slender frame.

The sky was overcast with clouds the color of gunmetal, so Bakura couldn't tell what time of day it was. His feet carried him in Sadamara's direction. She hovered before him; a mirage he couldn't stop following.

-- o -- o -- o --

"I'll check our house, and you call the Tetra."

"Okay", said Malik, and he turned away from Ryou to go find a phone.

He found a bank of payphones and grabbed the first available one. Gripping it between his jaw and shoulder, be started digging through his pockets for change.

There was a man using the phone beside his-- tall, rail-thin, with blonde hair. He was facing the other way. Malik only noticed him because he was laughing, and the noise was bothersome.

Malik found the correct change and deposited it, then dialed--

Wait, who the fuck am I supposed to call? I don't know K San's cell number... Don't know the hotel number... He blushed.

The guy laughed even harder than before. It felt as if he were laughing at Malik. He narrowed his eyes at the stranger's back.

Sighing, Malik put the phone back in its cradle and pushed the lever to retrieve his change. Looking up, his breath caught in his throat.

The man's head had turned all the way around to face him. The flesh of his neck was twisted and creased from the unnatural position. His eyes were bloodred, with glowing golden irises. His mouth was stretched out in an inhuman smile.

"Got a problem?" With those words, he vanished.

Malik stood frozen and speechless for a minute or two, blinking rapidly.

What the hell...? Was that a ghost?

He let out a nervous giggle.

Just a random, run of the mill spook... Kinda goofy, really. He laughed a little louder.

"Malik!"

Ryou came running up, crashing into him and grabbing Malik's forearms to stop himself. "I'm so glad I found you!"

"What is it?"

"I can't get out. This building won't let me leave!"

-- o -- o -- o --

Yugi tore through the plastic bag containing Jouno's personal effects and dug out the black midi and leather pants. When he pulled out Kaiba's trench coat, he heard two clangs as the Sennen Rod and Millennium Puzzle fell out and hit the floor.

His tiny hands snatched them up before the sound of them hitting the floor had stopped echoing. "Here they are! At last!"

However, his smile faded a second later as he gazed at the Millennium Puzzle.

It's... cold...

Turning it, he saw the gaping hole where the puzzle's eye had been taken out.

"It's incomplete." He looked at Jouno.

"I honestly don't know where the last piece is, Yugi. If anyone knows, it would be Malik."

-- o -- o -- o --

Malik let out an exasperated sigh. "I have no idea what the fuck is going on."

He and Ryou stood hand in hand in what should have been a bustling hospital. The halls were empty; the lights were out. All that could be heard was the rain, slamming itself against the building's exterior.

Ryou's voice came out as a whisper. "What are we gonna do?"

"I don't know..." Malik lowered his head and in a flash, his hair stood and it was Fluffy who gazed up at Ryou. "This is Rebecca's doing. She's trapped us here for a reason."

"What is it? Is she doing something to Bakura?!"

He looked around, and began leading Ryou down one of the corridors. "We have to find her first. That's the game."

-- o -- o -- o --

"Is this it?"

Sadamara's response was to fade away.

Hands on hips, rain-soaked bangs plastered to his forehead, Bakura found himself at the gates of Kaiba Corp.

paradox theory
finish

If there's something you'd like to see more of, don't be shy-- review! Please note that I cannot guarantee the safety of any particular character, so don't ask for that, but you can ask for just about anything else. See ya next update!