Author's Note: You may skip the Introduction if you wish. It's got little to do with the story anyways, though it can relate and may prove to be interesting. Just a blurb, that's all. And just so you all know, I'm past my teen angst/wangsting phase. It's safe to read! (chuckles)

History: This story was originally written (and was based off of) my first fanfic/songfic called "Sunday Morning After" by request. The first chapter of the original fiction was published on May 28, 2002. It was later cut short to an end on July 28, 2002. (I would like to add that it coincidently met its end exactly two months after it first began.)

I would like to thank Kitsune of Insanity for her vigorous support in the past and for all her contributions whether they made it into the fic or not. It would also be an honour for me if she ever chooses to grace me with her presence once again. Thank you also to those who reviewed in the original fic. I have chosen to keep all the reviews as remembrance of what once was though sadly to say, I have lost all the emails sent.

Summary: Poor Ryou has bad luck following him wherever he goes. It seems to spread like a contagious disease to those around him… But perhaps he could turn things around with the help of his yami – if only Bakura would play nice for once – and maybe pick up the pieces left of his life.

Warning: abuse, alcohol, blood

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, any of the characters, or anything relating to it in any way or form. It belongs to its respective owners and affiliates.

However, I do claim to own the piece in the Introduction, with all meaning of copyright. It is a musing of my own put into a written format. It has been uploaded to share with the masses, and is a completely independent piece of its own, though found to be fitting as an introductory for this story and is from which this story's title derives from. The rest of the story is a fanfiction and therefore I acknowledge that I do not have true copyright because of conflicting laws in place. With this in mind, yes, I state to be the writer of this fanfiction.

All the above unless stated otherwise.

By Pain I Live
Introduction

Ignorance is bliss.

All things are born innocent and naïve: they go hand in hand. And ignorance.

For babes know nothing but that there is. No knowledge of the miracle past, or of the damnation to come. Because they have yet to be tainted by all else that is, they are innocent. It is for the lack of experience can they be naïve. Such missing importance is also the reason why they are ignorant, and the ignorant are the first to fall.

They live their lives walking blindly, only aware of their world. Sheltered by love, comfort and security, they know not of pain and despair. Perhaps they do, but they cannot comprehend the extent of which miseries can become. Maybe those who have had a taste of torture can understand; but have they ever had to live days with scarce food and warmth? Have they ever had to accept the unfairness of it all just so they might live to see if there's anything of worth?

It is this which makes us grow in intellect and in spirit and in understanding if we can look past all and See. Makes us who we are and brings out the full potential of our being. Those without such experience will only see fear, unable to step past that wall which separates knowledge from wisdom.

Therefore: by pain I live, and by death, I be at peace.

AN: It's the anniversary of the original finishing chapter! I've uploaded the original version on my LiveJournal for all of you to compare and poke fun at. Yes, it's horrible. I shudder with disbelief at what our standards used to be. I shudder in horror still at what some people's standards are at now. Thank all deities for such a thing as 'maturing' and 'growing up'. Er… No offence to anyone though.

Links to responses to reviews will be posted in my profile as soon as I get reviews to bother to respond to.