Love Hurts
By Jet Set Yoyo
Disclaimer: I do NOT own yu-gi-oh If I did I wouldn't be writing fics on the internet.
("Talking", Thinking, 'flashbacks', Bakura's mind link, 'Ryou's mind link')
Alright so I'm still getting requests to change/update this story so while I'm sitting her bored in the library I spewed a retype of the first chapter. If I get more time, I'll do the second. I'm planning to make this like Gift From Above and just shorten my overall idea. I've realized I absolutely cannot do long stories, I don't have to attention span. Thanks for putting up with me. Hope you enjoy.
Am I still alive...? I must be, I'm talking to myself. Ryou said in his mind. He felt as if everything in the world was fine and dandy, a warm floating feeling taking over his body. It was too good to be true. Suddenly a loud voice came from all around him.
"Wake up! Wake up you lazy little brat! Or have you not learned your lesson yet?" Bakura demanded angrily, staring down at the sleeping boy.
Oh yeah, Bakura's beating me again. I must've fallen and gotten knocked out. I wish I was dead…
Ryou opened his eyes and found his Yami Bakura, looking down at him rather angrily. Ryou slowly stumbled to his feet recalling the events of the night before and the reason he was once again asleep on the kitchen floor.
"That's better. Until you act like one I will not treat you like a normal human-being." Bakura sneered shoving the boy to his feet because he was taking far too long.
"Yes master..." Ryou responded quietly not daring to look the older teen in the face, he'd learned it was better not to; it generally led to more beatings.
"Get to school!"
There was always a sadistic smile plastered on the older teens face. Sometimes it scared him sometimes it didn't and it didn't make any sense to him whatsoever but then again, nothing made much sense to him anymore. Still a bit groggy and injured Ryou picked up his backpack and fell back to the floor under its weight; which wasn't a whole lot to begin with. Bakura laughed at the boy's misfortune then went over to him and hauled him to his feet roughly. As he lifted his Hikari he slid a small pill into the smaller boys' mouth and shoved him out the door.
Did he just drug me? What was that a pain killer? Why would he be that nice? I'm losing my mind to this psycho. I just wish he'd kill me already. He wrinkled his nose staring into space clearly puzzled to any passerby's but was soon driven back to reality as his mind registered the telephone pole less than 2 feet away from his face. Oops, silly me. I said dead not injured further.
It was a never ending cycle to him; wake up, eat, avoid Bakura's wrath if he was awake, walk to school, be beaten up by bullies, go home and do homework then be beaten by Bakura until he was knocked unconscious. On the way from the apartment to the school he stopped over a bridge and stared into the water. Normally he'd be a bit more prudent in getting to school on time but as the years wore on he no longer had it in him to be the good student he used to be. Besides, no one really cared much. He was the invisible person in the class, to both students and teachers until someone needed a punching bag or someone to do their homework for them. It wasn't like him to say no to them either, he'd be beaten further.
I wonder if I'd die if I jumped from here? Probably not, it can't be higher than twenty feet or so. He glanced at his watch and realized he was going to be late, again. Without a clue as to why he was even bothering he ran through the morning crowds and busy roads full of men and women off to work and made it into his classroom just before the late bell rang. The day went as it normally would all the classes went well he was ignored by every single living soul in the room, and even if there was a dead one he figured it'd probably avoid him too. He even received the usual beating from the bullies after school though it wasn't as bad as it normally was. Surprisingly no one had homework for him to do, so at least that was a plus. He took his time in getting home, not really looking forward to seeing or dealing with Bakura tonight. He'd receive his beatings anyway but at least he could postpone it as much as possible. Maybe I can stop going home? …yeah and freeze or starve to death anyway. Well maybe that wouldn't be so bad. Of course Bakura was waiting for him when he got home.
"Homework?" Bakura questioned as soon as Ryou stepped in the door.
"No I finished it all at school during study." Bakura smirked as he stared at him.
Peh, the weakling. How annoying he is...why did I have to be stuck with such an annoying child? Staring at me with those innocent eyes as if I'm going to be kind to him. Bakura nearly gagged himself at the thought but another much quieter voice in the back of his mind was whispering something different. He swatted away the quiet voice mentally and realized the brat was trying to speak to him.
"Y...Yes what is it Master?" Ryou asked quietly noticing the awkward stare coming from his Yami.
"Nothing. Get out of my sight or I'll-" Bakura's smile faded as he raised his fist causing Ryou to cower immediately and take a few steps backwards emitting a whimper.
"No no please I'm leaving I'm leaving." Fear filled the boy's innocent chocolate eyes as they widened. The door slammed upstairs and a slight sobbing noise could be heard. He shook his head in disgust and called up to Ryou.
"I'm going out now stay in the house Ryou." Bakura heard the sobbing stop briefly.
"Al-Alright I won't go anywhere." The sobbing continued after Ryou heard the front door slam then he realized that he had used his name, not a stupid nickname, not an insult, his name. He smiled a bit, tears still running down his face drenching his pillow. Why does he hate me so...? I never did anything to him. Why can't he appreciate me like the Pharaoh appreciates Yuugi... it's not fair! A loud knock came from the front door. Sniffled he dried his tears on his uniform he was still wearing before hurrying to answer it thinking Bakura had left his key behind again.
"W...Who is it?" He called out meekly.
"Ryou? It's Yuugi can I come in please? I was hoping we could hang out for a bit if you're not busy?" Yuugi's voice was cheerful as always. It made him sick from time to time. How could anyone possibly be so damn happy? Like he had no a care in the world.
"I uh… I'm not feeling well. I'll see you in school."
'Bakura? Bakura are you there? I wanted to ask you something...'
What is it you annoying pest? Don't you know not to bother me while I'm out?
'Well umm... Yuugi came by, can I go hang out with him?'
No not when I'm not there. You cannot be trusted yet.
He sighed and went to the refrigerator to grab a snack after he heard Yuugi leave. Munching on an apple and drinking some soda his mind started to wander until he heard a loud bang near the front door. He knew right away it was Bakura and Marik. His eyes widened and immediately he rose and attempted to flee towards his room but instead slipped on a rug and crashed to the floor tipping over a glass left nearby by Bakura. It hit Ryou in the head and shattered leaving a large wound as the pieces settled to the floor as well as a sprained ankle from slipping. He was determined not to be caught between Marik and Bakura's games, especially if either were drunk; he used every ounce of strength he had to limp all the way back to his room. All he could do was lay quietly on his bed hoping Bakura forgot he existed and went straight to sleep after Marik left. Voices floated up from the kitchen and footsteps echoed in his head from the hallway, coming closer and closer. He just wished everything would go away, everyone would just leave him alone to die. He was too tired from blood loss to be afraid this time he just stayed still waiting for what was to come would pass. A knock came from the door which shocked Ryou into opening his eyes; Bakura never knocked. Who was it? Suddenly the door opened slowly and Ryou really didn't want to find out who it was.
"Ryou? I heard some glass break are you alright?" A timid voice called from the doorframe. It was Malik. Ryou sat immediately and smiled sweetly at him. He was probably the only person to know what he was going through, after all Marik was the same way with Malik as Bakura was towards him. "Well I guess you're alright then huh? Oh hey! You head is bleeding let me fix that up for you."
Ryou laughed and pulled away when Malik touched his head.
"Hmm? What's so funny?"
"It tickles!" Ryou giggled and let Malik continue cleaning the dried blood from his now matted hair.
"You really should take a shower to get the rest of this out... before it stays there forever."
"It can do that?"
"I dunno just go take a warm shower it'll make you feel better."
Ryou gathered some clothes to change into and headed to the bathroom. Malik heard the water start to run he smirked and returned to the kitchen where Bakura was sitting drinking a beer.
"The idiot really thought I was that good-for-nothing Hikari of mine. You're not going to beat him today Bakura?" Marik chuckled sitting beside his friend.
"Nah... he's been through enough I'll let him rest for now."
"You're going soft Bakura. You like him don't you? You're falling for a pathetic weakling!? That's low Bakura. Come on let's have some fun with him."
"I am not falling for the weakling I just don't want to kill him... yet."
The shower stopped and Ryou could be heard from the kitchen when he yelled "Whoa!" then giggled. Bakura shook his head and continued drinking his beer. Marik yelled to Ryou in a mock sweet voice, still pretending to be Malik, "I have to go now are you going to be okay Ryou?"
"Yeah I'll be fine Malik, go ahead."
Ryou still hadn't realized Bakura was home. He returned to his room and put on some music. Bakura sighed, irritated with Marik, and stood up heading towards Ryou's room. He opened the door quietly and peered in curious as to what the little brat could possibly be up to while he believed Bakura was out. Surprised to find Ryou was sitting at his desk doodling and small picture while listening to his CD player, Bakura smiled without realizing he did so. Ryou looked up and saw Bakura looking in at him and froze completely. Fear filled his brown eyes and uncontrollable tears came with it, before Bakura could move he managed to choke out a small request through his tears.
"Please don't hit me, not today please," He honestly had no idea what to expect, "Please...?"
Bakura didn't say a word he just left the room and went back downstairs. It took a while for Ryou to calm himself down and stop thinking Bakura would change his mind and come back in to hurt him. Eventually he huddled into a ball on his bed drifted slowly to sleep.