EDIT: Haha…I went back and edited it. After what? A year? More? I'm not sure. I should finish this piece…but how? I never thought how it would end when I began. The ending wasn't what mattered to me. It was the story of the beginning I wanted to tell. I'll think on it.

Had this idea and couldn't shake it. A tale of romantic tragedy, about a beast who grew hungry too hungry for the love he was given. What is love? And can it be taken by force?

Going to be yaoi hints, just a warning!

XXX

The young boy waited in the darkness of his bedroom, as he'd been instructed, tucked safely beneath a white, down comforter. Faint footsteps echoed in the hallway. Someone was moving around in the bathroom. He could see the lights in the hall, shining in through the door left ajar. Shadows moved in the lit hallway and the beam of solid light wavered, and then disappeared. He closed his eyes quick, feeling his chest begin to tighten. The boy swallowed. His throat tickled but he held back a cough, afraid to make any noise. The door squeaked as someone opened it further, and soon after closed completely with a muffled click. The boy clutched his comforter tightly. A familiar presence smoothly slid beneath the sheets to lie beside him. The covers shifted and strong arms wrapped around the boy's middle; a chin found its place on his shoulder and for a moment he held onto the fleeting hope that this might be it. Now they'd both go to sleep and that would be the end of it.

"Hikari…" a low voice purred into his ear, tickling him with warm breath. His heart beat quickened. "Hikari…You're awake aren't you...?" Dear God, his voice…Ryou knew what that husky voice meant. He also knew pretending to be a sleep was not an option. His counterpart would know the difference. It was a very rare thing for Ryou to fall asleep without the feel of his partner beside him. He couldn't succumb to sleep without knowing what sort of night it would be.

"Ryou." The other one nuzzled his hair, a hand roaming up the boy's stomach and tickling it lightly.

"Yami…" the boy breathed. What could he do now? It was obvious what sort of night it was going to be…He bit his lower lip. Why tonight? Why not last night or the night before?

Bakura nuzzled his neck, biting it rather hardly, sucking on it like a vampire draining its prey. Ryou shivered and moaned. No…he didn't feel good tonight. Bakura's one hand stayed up by Ryou's chest, while the other started to roam lower…

"Please…Bakura?" he whispered. The one holding him stopped sucking for a moment and Ryou felt his body stiffen a bit.

"What is it hikari?" he asked, his voice a low grumble. Ryou bit his lower lip harder. It wasn't good to interrupt Bakura on nights like this…it was never good to go against Bakura's will. That was bad; very bad. Ryou swallowed the tickle in his throat again. He was about to say something when Bakura went back to his business again.

"Yami wait…" he whispered. This time Bakura growled and bit him hard, making the boy whimper.

"Shh…No more talking Ryou…" he ordered, his voice silky-smooth. Shifting his position, the stronger one slid on top of Ryou and straddled his hips. "You know better." Ryou's breathing was quickening now.

"But…I don't feel so good…" Bakura grabbed Ryou's wrists firmly and moved them up over his head, leaning down so his face was right by Ryou's. Without so much as another word Ryou found he was being suffocated in a harsh kiss. The tickle in his throat suddenly grew and Ryou whimpered, trying to pull away. Bakura was strong and held him in place as he continued to kiss like a hungry wolf. "Y-Yami!" he whispered fiercely, turning his head to the side. "Please—please stop!" Bakura paid no attention. Instead he began kissing down Ryou's neck and to his chest, nipping here and there. "Bakura—please—no!"

All at once they both froze; Ryou in fear and Bakura in surprise. The boy clamped his mouth shut; looking wide eyed at the man on top oh him. Bakura was glaring down at him, eyes narrow. His grip on the boy became tighter and Ryou knew there would be bruises on his wrists later. It didn't matter. What had he done? What had he been thinking?

"No?" Bakura asked in a deathly whisper. "Ryou…did you just say what I think you said?" Ryou opened his mouth to speak but meaningless muttering was all that came out. Bakura leaned in closer. "I think you did."

"I'm sorry!" he whispered quickly. "I didn't mean to-I-!" Suddenly that feeling in the back of his throat overwhelmed him. Ryou turned his head to the side, gasping for air. He couldn't help it; a loud, hacking cough came out. It made his throat burn and his eyes water. "Y-yami!" he tried to speak. "I-I don't feel..." Another loud cough came out. "-don't feel too good…"

He could feel Bakura's attitude change. His grip on the boy's wrists loosened, and he let go, but Ryou kept his wrists up, afraid if he moved them Bakura would get angry. The one on top of him stared. Even in the dark Ryou could see his frown. Was he angry? Concerned? Ryou hoped he wasn't too angry…it wasn't his fault he didn't feel good. But he had said it…he had said that word.

One of Bakura's hands came to rest on Ryou's head. "You're hot," he said after a moment. Ryou waited, like a defendant on trial. What would the judge's ruling be? With an aggravated sigh Bakura crawled off of him, and stood by the bed. "Stay here," he ordered, as if Ryou was planning on going anywhere. Bakura left for the bathroom. Ryou waited nervously, his throat still on fire. If only he had a cup of water. Or tea. Oh how he longed for a cup of tea at that moment.

Bakura's footsteps were coming close again and then the door was opened and shut. "Sit up," he commanded. Ryou did so, shakily. Bakura was holding something…what was it? Bakura stood by him. "Drink this," he ordered. Ryou opened his mouth reluctantly but obediently. Something terrible tasting entered his mouth. He almost spit it out! Luckily he forced himself to swallow but the terrible taste still lingered. Bakura walked around the bed, crawling back in on the other side.

Ryou kept swallowing, trying to flush the nasty taste from his mouth. No use. It must have been some sort of medication. He wondered if it would help his throat at all…

"Hikari," Bakura snapped, getting Ryou's attention. The boy turned to him.

"Thank you Yami…" he whispered. Bakura nodded, staring at Ryou through narrowed eyes.

"You're sick…So tonight, I'll let you rest." A wave of relief flooded over the boy and he felt his whole body relax.

"Thank you Yami," he repeated. Bakura watched him a moment longer, then smirked.

"But," he said sharply. Ryou froze again. "Tomorrow you must stay home. You must stay home until I say you're better." Ryou's eyes widened.

"But…what about school?" he asked timidly.

"You'll go back when you're better," Bakura said simply. That was his final answer and Ryou knew it. On another night the boy might have continued the conversation. He might have argued about how important school was to his future, or that people might get suspicious if he was gone too long, but not tonight. "Three strikes and you're out," he thought, miserably.

"Yes, Yami."

Bakura nodded and patted the spot on the bed beside him. Like a faithful dog Ryou crawled closer. Bakura held him close; his arms were firm and warm. His chin set its self on Ryou's head, leaving the boy to cuddle into his chest. If anyone were steal this moment, trap it in a picture and give it a name, they might title it: Two Boys in Love.

"Love…" Ryou thought dimly. "Was that how it all started?"

He coughed a bit, his throat burning like embers in a dying fire. "And Ryou…" Bakura whispered. "Do you remember what I told you about that word?" Ryou nodded slightly.

"Yes Yami…I'm sorry…I won't say it again."

"You'd better not." Bakura answered. There was no danger in his voice now, but there was a firmness. Almost like a Father warning his child of the dangers of crossing the road without looking both ways. "You know what will happen if you do." A lullaby of a threat. Ryou's eyes were already feeling heavy.

"Yes…"

"Good. You must sleep now…"

"Yes Yami." Ryou closed his eyes, breathing slowly. He almost said something he hadn't said in a while…something that seemed so familiar, yet so foreign and forgotten. Like a dream.

"I love you Bakura." He thought in his head. Hadn't that once been the goodnight ritual? Before the waiting in bed to see what kind of night it was. Before the illnesses. Before the accidents. Before the nightmares.

"There's no reason to bring up bad memories," his mind scolded, and the boy snuggled further into his keeper's chest. Yes. There was no point in giving himself nightmares. The young boy decided not to think about it, or anything else for that matter. His mind was a blank. A cool, black sheet. A starless sky. He was safe now…

Bakura's grip on the boy tightened.

…safe in the arms of the darkness.

XXX

Well, it's just a first chapter. Tell me what you think. This is going to be pretty angsty folks.