HELLO!!!!!! Like time no see…read…whatever. I'm sorry for the late updates. My internets been down and a very busy schedule. But it's summer so free time!! Bwahahaha!!! Please read and review!!!

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Tortured Screams Chap 3: Unsuspected surprise

A piercing scream.

A bloodied claw.

A roar of delight.

Fire.

Blood.

Pain!

Yugi woke with a start. Beads of sweat dripped down his face. He clenched the sheets tightly in his trembling hands. Another nightmare. He quickly reached for the lamp and switched it on. Comforting white light enveloped the room. Yugi took a shaky breath and calmed his nerves. He couldn't take much more of this. The dreams had been plaguing him for days now. So much that he even brought himself to taking sleep medication so he could at least get a decent 8 hours of sleep.

Yugi groaned and clutched his head as a pounding headache began to form. He whipped off his sweat soaked covers and got to his feet. Staggering down the hall he made his way to the kitchen. Opening a cupboard he retrieved the bottle of aspirin. Downing two with a glass of water he plopped himself heavily on a kitchen chair. Resting his head in his arms he waited patiently for the medicine to take affect.

Why did the dreams keep coming? Was he stressed? Not that he could think of. Was he angry? He couldn't think of a situation for that either. Horror fic? Nah. Then what was it? He clutched his hair in both hands in frustration. Soft footsteps stepped through the hallway. Yugi looked up to see Ryo in his pajamas sleepily rubbing his eyes. A smile played on his lips as the man reminded Yugi of a sleepy child.

"I'm sorry Ryo. Did I wake you?" Yugi asked apologetically. Ryo walked over and sat in the chair beside him.

"No." Ryo yawned. He rested his head on his boyfriends shoulder. "I was cold and I noticed the light." Yugi smiled and stroked one of Ryo's bangs. "Nightmare?"

"Yeah. Big surprise. They keep getting worse." Yugi muttered. Ryo looked up at him with concern.

"Any idea what's causing them?"

"I was asking myself the same question."

"Maybe you should go to a councilor." Ryo suggested. He could feel the dampness on Yugi's shirt.

"I don't need a councilor." Yugi replied stubbornly.

"It doesn't mean your crazy. I've been to one."

"And you're still crazy." Ryo playfully punched him.

"You can't go on like this forever you know. It's bad for your health."

Yugi sighed and stared at the condensation forming on his glass. "I just can't figure out what it is."

"That's what a councilor is for."

"I'm not going to a councilor!" Ryo sat up and stared his boyfriend straight in the eyes.

"Fine then. I'll be your councilor."

"What?"

"No, no, watch." Ryo stood up and grabbed Yugi by the hand. He pulled him to the living room and placed him on the couch. "Lay down."

"Why?"

"Just shut up and do as I say. I'm being your councilor." Yugi sighed in exasperation and did as he was told. Ryo grabbed the recliner and scooted it closer to the couch so he was facing his 'subject.' He then grabbed a pad of paper and pencil.

"Now what?" Yugi questioned. Ryo cleared his throat and sat straight up in his chair. He put on a goofy serious face trying to make himself look intelligent and scribbled something on his paper.

"Patients name: Yugi Mutou. Age: Twenty-three. Problem: Nightmares." Ryo announced in a sophisticated tone.

"Ryo."

"Shh. You're my patient. I ask the questions."

"Well then ask away before I fall asleep." Yugi spoke amused.

"How do you feel?" Yugi had to keep from laughing as Ryo drawled out his words.

"Silly."

"No, no, no. Speak truthfully."

"Tired and silly."

"That's better." Ryo scribbled something on his paper. "Tell me about your dream."

"Okay…let's see. Everything is black. I never see any images or pictures. Just black."

"Hm." Ryo kept his head down and continued to scribble while Yugi retold his dream.

"I only hear things. I usually hear screaming and roars from a beast maybe. Sometimes I get the feeling someone's calling out my name." He stopped for a moment as he recollected the next part.

"What else?" Ryo questioned.

"I get the feeling like someone's trying to…I don't know…kill me I guess. I never see anything but it's kind of like I know what's going on."

"Well, what is it you sense?" Ryo's face was furrowed in concentration as he wrote.

"Blood. Sharp claws. Pain. There's other things but I can't remember anymore." A cold chill ran up Yugi's spine. He glanced over at Ryo who seemed to be concentrating hard on his piece of paper. "Well doctor? You got a remedy for my problem?"

Ryo looked up and grinned. There was a mischievous glint in his eye. "Absolutely my patient. I can only think of one medication that can cure you?"

"And what's that?" Yugi chuckled. Ryo hopped off his chair and leaped onto his lover. He planted a light kiss on Yugi's lips.

"It'll cure you for at least tonight." Ryo smiled. Yugi chuckled in amusement and wrapped his arms around his lover. Ryo kissed him again long and passionately this time.

"Are you sure this is acceptable between patient and doctor, Doctor Ryo?" Yugi questioned after they broke apart.

"Only between me and you." Ryo laughed. The two lay there embraced in each other's arms. Yugi noticed the notepad still in his lover's hand.

"Lets see what notes did you take." He flipped the pad so he could see. He laughed as he noticed random doodles across the page. "What a beautiful note taker."

"What can I say?"

That night they slept in Yugi's room. When they awoke the next morning they were still wrapped in each other's arms. They both headed off to work around six. Ryo went one way, Yugi the other. It was a dreary day. Rain poured from the enormous clouds that blocked the sun and sky. When five-o-clock rolled around and Ryo entered his shared apartment the rain was still beating down.

Ryo lay on the couch flipping channels waiting for his boyfriend to return home. He wished he'd hurry. He hated the rain and the thunder. He especially hated the rain and the thunder when he was home alone. Thunder clapped and Ryo pulled a blanket that was draped over the back of the couch around his body. He shivered lightly missing the warmth of Yugi.

Ryo bolted upright as he heard a rattling on the window pain. He settled down when he noticed it was just the branch of a tree. The wind howled reminding Ryo of ghosts and ghouls that whispered horrid words into a sleeper's ear. He clenched the blanket and remote tighter.

"I really need to stop watching so many horror flicks." He muttered to himself.

"Ryo!"

Ryo leaped from the couch onto the floor as he heard his name. He whirled around in all directions looking for the source.

"It's just the wind." He told himself. Hesitantly he replaced his butt back on the couch. The hairs on his neck were raised.

"RYO!"

Ryo nearly jumped out of his skin. He dove behind the couch in fear. The television suddenly flickered and went dead.

"It's all in my head. It's all in my head." He repeated that over and over again as he looked around. His legs began to tingle from loss of blood flow, but he was too frightened to move. He waited for what seemed like hours but in reality was about ten minutes. Somehow feeling the threat had passed he cautiously stood to his numb feet.

"Damn it, Ryo!"

Ryo yelped and dropped back down to the floor in terror. He shut his eyes tightly waiting for something terrible to happen. There was a click. Ryo turned his pale face to the door. The handle turned. Ryo sat there anxiously waiting. The numbness was now up to his mid thighs.

"Ryo?" Ryo cried out in joy as Yugi opened the door and walked inside. Ryo leaped to his feet and came crashing down as his numb legs gave out. "Ah! Are you alright?" Yugi asked rushing to his boyfriend's side. Ryo gripped Yugi's shirt and hugged him tightly. "Ryo? What's wrong?"

"I just had the crap scared out of me." He replied quivering. "It was you calling my name, right?"

"Only when I walked through the door." Yugi replied confused. Ryo paled even further.

"Mean you weren't yelling Ryo?"

"No."

"I must be going crazy." Yugi smiled and helped Ryo to his feet.

"You're not going crazy. The storm was probably just playing tricks on you." Ryo nodded and continued to hug Yugi tightly. "Are you sure you're alright? Do I need to take you to a councilor?"

"Now that you're here, I'm good." Ryo smiled. Yugi pecked him on the forehead. The two sat down on the couch.

As they sat there they recited the events of their day. Ryo had nearly been mauled by a dog during his walk to work and Yugi had some punk kid try and still a game. They talked for about an hour and then ate dinner. They were about ready to head off to bed when there was a loud knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" Yugi questioned.

Ryo shrugged and walked over unlocking the latch and opening the door a crack. He cried out in horror and quickly slammed the door shut and bolted it closed. He grabbed a broom from the corner and braced it beneath the handle and then pressed against the door with all his might as if he could actually repel the visitor.

"Ryo?" Yugi was confused by Ryo's absurd behavior.

"Ryo, let me in!" Yugi paled as he recognized Bakura's voice.

"Like hell!" Ryo cried back. Yugi could hear Bakura sigh on the other side. Then with a gentler but strangely urgent voice Bakura replied:

"Please, let me in. I need to talk to you. You're in danger!"

"Then talk to me through the door because I'm not letting you in my house!" Ryo yelled. There was another sigh and a frustrated growl.

"There are some things I need to explain! You don't have much time!"

"Then tell us why you're alive after the pharaoh killed you!" Ryo demanded. There was a pause.

"Us? Who else is in there?"

"Me, Yugi." Yugi called through the door.

"The pharaoh's hikari? Good I can kill two birds with one stone." Ryo cried out in terror. "Oh crap! I didn't mean it like that! Ryo, let me in and I'll explain! Please!

"Ryo, maybe we should." Yugi whispered touching his lovers shoulder. Ryo growled and shook his head. Yugi was shocked to see tears streaming down his face.

"No! I finally got rid of you! I don't want you back! My life's been at peace for over seven years! Stay away!

Bakura growled angrily and glared at the door with all his might in hopes of maybe setting it a fire. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Running a hand through his rain soaked hair he bowed his head.

"Ryo….I…heh…I'm sorry."

"What?!"

"I'm sorry. But you have to trust me even if it's just this once. Please, it's for both your sakes!"

There was a pause. Then after a few clicks and rattles Ryo opened the door. Bakura rushed inside before the man could change his mind. The three stared at each other in shock and slight fear. It wasn't everyday your Yami came back from the dead. Bakura smirked and folded his arms.

"The two of you aren't so little anymore are you?" The two men glared at him harshly.

"What do you want?" Yugi questioned firmly. Bakura glanced at him and felt a small pang shoot through his heart. Of what emotion he wasn't sure, but the hikari looked so much like the pharaoh…or what the pharaoh used to look like.

"Something's happened and…" He growled at himself in shame for admitting this. "I need your help."

Ryo and Yugi stared at him in shock.

"What?" The two asked in unison. Bakura glared at them for making him have to say it twice.

"I need your help." He repeated. The two continued to stare at him confused. Bakura's blood began to bubble in anger. "Forget it! The pharaoh can come and destroy this planet for all I care! The two of you are two stupid to comprehend anything!"

"What did you say?" Yugi questioned. His face had suddenly gone pale.

"I said, for those of you hard of hearing, he can destroy this planet and the two of you and I wouldn't give a rats ass about it!" Bakura repeated angrily.

"You said 'the pharaoh' did you mean…"

"Who else would I mean? Yes, I'm talking of Atemu or Yami or whatever the hell you call him!"

"You're lying!" Ryo yelled.

"Oh, am I? How would you know? Pathetic hikari, don't know why I even bothered to ask help from such a…" Ryo's fist connected with Bakura's jaw catching him off guard. Bakura fell to the floor a little shocked.

"I'm not your hikari anymore!" Ryo growled. Bakura sat up and shook his head. He smirked when he touched his split lip.

"Heh, you really have gown up." Bakura wiped the blood away.

"Go to hell."

"Been there."

"Bakura, what's going on?" Yugi asked quietly. "What happened to the pharaoh?"

Bakura stood to his feet and stared at Yugi. A distant look suddenly came over his face. Ryo and Yugi stared at him questioningly. Bakura shook his head and turned his face to the window.

"Zorc got a hold of him." Bakura replied quietly. Yugi and Ryo paled.

"What did he do to him?" Yugi asked his voice quivering. Ryo grabbed the man's hand. Bakura looked at this curiously.

"He tor…" Bakura was cut off as the window shattered to pieces. The three screamed at the figure before them.

"Why hello 'kura. Long time no see." Yami smiled menacingly. Yugi and Ryo stared in horror.

Yami's hair fell about his face like strings of black, blonde and crimson water. His arms were covered with a red vine tattoo. Two giant black wings protruded from his back with clawed tips. The webbing was crimson like his eyes. His hands were human but his fingertips were clawed like a beast's. His face was tanned and glowed with a beautiful appearance, but his eyes held an evil and murderous intent. And on his mouth two white pointed teeth gently rested on his lower lip. He was a ghastly sight but gorgeous at the same time. His figure was perfect and strong with chiseled muscles and wonderful curves. He wore black leather pants and tall boots with straps. Black armbands with a skull graced his upper arms. He also wore a black muscle shirt with red strips crossing around his torso. To the three men he looked like an angel of hell, beautiful and horrific at the same time.

"Pharaoh, you don't want to do this." Bakura spoke softly. He positioned his body between the demon and the two terrified men.

"Sure I do." Yami smirked delighted. "I just wanted to talk to my sweet and gentle hikari." As he spoke he tilted his head to Yugi and stared at him with a hungry glare. Yugi shivered and felt his heart skip a beat.

"Pharaoh, stay back." Bakura spoke again. He spread his arms out blocking Yami's way. Yami playfully pouted and dropped to the floor.

"You ruin all my fun, 'kura." As Yami walked his body swayed back and forth like the ghosts of the dead when they dance. He chuckled darkly and grinned showing off his pointed fangs.

There was a flash of lightning and the demon lunged.

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Bum bum buuummmmmm……sorry….cliff hangers suck don't they. (Smiles wickedly) Hope you enjoyed. Sorry for the slow updates various reasons, but now it's summer time so more free time yay!!!! Or so we think….Explanations of how we got to this point will happen next chapter.

Anyways thanks for reading and please review!!! Good, bad, beautiful criticism... I all like.

Thanks and have a good night!!!!

Tootles

-Tragedyluver