Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh. Never did, never will. Even though I wish I did, I don't. So just shoot me. XP

Summary: Due to his yami's abuse, Ryou Bakura has formed the habit of cutting himself to help with his unstable mind. After his friends find out, it's only a matter of time for them to stop him, until Ryou goes too far...

Things needed to know: I hate the dubs, and if you know about the Japanese version and the manga, and you understand it, you'll see why the American version sucks major ass. So, I go by the Japanese, and I call everyone by those names. If you don't know the characters Japanese names, please read this:

Joey: Jonouchi

Tea: Anzu

Triston: Honda

Bakura: Ryou

Yami Bakura: Bakura

Yugi: Yuugi

Yami Yugi: Yami. But you knew that already.

And.. ~blah~ = thoughts/ yami to hikari talk (mentally)

Author's Notes: Yes, It's me. I'm still alive, and I'm back. My stories will be rather dark, since I've come down with depression and writing is the only thing I find pleasure in doing anymore. Please R&R. It will make me feel a whole lot better, and maybe it will cheer me up enough to bring me out of this. Thanks. On with the story....

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Pain. It was what Ryou Bakura felt every day of his miserable life. His evil, sadistic yami beat the crap out of him everyday, for reasons Ryou did not know, but wasn't willing to ask him about. With pain everywhere, his spirit broken, his hopes shattered, Ryou was a hopless cause. Until he found the simple source of HIM being in control of his pain, or at least some of it. A simple cut on the arm, watching his blood flow because he had caused it, and not his Yami...it made him feel stronger, happier, just overall better about himself.

It was Friday, one of, in Ryou's opinion, the worst days of the week (other then saturday of course), for the simple reason that for the next two days, he'd be all at Bakura's mercy and pain, and with no escape from it. The pale boy sighed and glanced at the clock. It was only nine o'clock in the morning, and Ryou had already finished his review test. It was too easy for him.

A sigh escaped his lips right before he recieved a poke in the side from Jonouchi, "Psst! Hey...Ryou, what's number four?"

Ryou raised an eyebrow and slid his paper over to Jonouchi's desk when his teacher wasn't looking. Not surprisingly, Jonouchi finished the test in the next five minutes, as opposed to his normal fourty-five Test finish rate.

"Thanks, Ryou" the Blonde whispered, handing Ryou back his paper, only to recieve a mere nod from the pale boy.

That afternoon, at lunch, Ryou conversed with his friends and ate happily, for once forgetting about his many problems in life, about his yami, who was now sleeping in his soul room (much to Ryou's relief), about the pain that was unwillingly inflicted on me everyday. Yuugi, Anzu, Jonouchi, and Honda also noticed that the normally-quiet Ryou was being rather social for a change.

"Hey, Ryou! You seem more....up-beat today! Unlike yesterday, you hardly spoke a word...why is that?"

Ryou shrugged, "I dunno...I guess I was just a little tired yesterday, that's all..." Accually, that was a lie. In his hurry to leave the house, Ryou forgot where he put the box-cutter he normally kept on the kitchen counter, so he had to leave to school without that warm feeling he got whenever he cut himself, which normally affected him the whole afternoon, at least until evening, when Bakura was asleep, so he could un-knowingly do the whole process over again, and feel the same way until morning.

Everyone nodded, deciting that was a just answer, and decited not to press him further.

The rest of the school day went fine; nothing really out of the ordinary happend, dispite the fact that Jonouchi and Honda had joked around so much that the teacher had forgotten to give them homework, much to Ryou's relief.

~Good...that's only two pieces of homework tonight...Bakura won't get too mad, hopefully...~ Ryou rolled his eyes at that, ~What am I saying? Bakura's always mad, for one reason or another....~

School was let out, and it seemed that Ryou was the only one grumbling about the weekend, though no one really seemed to care, or notice.

The pale boy got his stuff quickly -he didn't want to be late, or face the wrath of Bakura-, and left with only a quick goodbye to his friends.

Ryou's apartment was only a few blocks from Domino High School, which was a good thing on Ryou's part, (since Bakura hated it when Ryou was late) so he could get home rather quickly.

Ryou was now at his door. his hands trembled as he reached for the doorknob, because he knew that Bakura was there, on the other side, waiting for him, so his 'daily lessons' could begin. Knowing that waiting outside would only stall for time, and perhaps make Bakura angrier, and we all know what that means.

Slowly, he turned the doorknob and opened the door, quietly stepping inside and closing the door behind him...

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From the Authoress: Yes, I know. That was short. Please forgive me on that. Don't worry, the chapters will get longers, I promise. Please R&R! It will make me feel better, so much better.Hell, it gives me a reason to live. Thanks, and happy reading.

Ps: In your reviews, tell me if you would like this to be a shounen-ai between Ryou/Bakura! This can turn into one, but yet it also doesn't have to. Please tell me!