N/E/X/T/D/A/Y/M/O/R/N/I/N/G

"Don't even think about telling them anything!" warned Akefia, his face curling up in rage, "You were so stupid; it was as though you want to be sent back to the home,"

"It's not my fault if they care," mumble Ryou, only adding to Akefia's anger.

"Back chatting me now are we? They really are a bad influence on you," stated Akefia quite sternly. Ryou wished he could just sink into the couch he was sat on, "I wish you didn't exist, now go to school!"

"B…But I can't see anything!" shouted Ryou, scared at what Akefia was planning.

"Consider it as punishment, or would you rather it hurt a lot more," getting up Akefia grabbed Ryou's arm and practically threw him out the door, along with his bag, "don't get run over, it'll just make you more of a nuisance," he started laughing as he slammed the door shut behind him, leaving a blind and helpless Ryou to fend for himself. 'Don't cry… Don't cry' thought Ryou, biting his lip. Slowly getting up off the ground he found the hand railing on the side and carefully made his way down the steps.

Getting to the bottom of the steps, after it seemed like hours he let go and stood there, not knowing what to do or where to go, hoping that his new found friends would happen to be walking by.

S/A/M/E/T/I/M/E

"We really need to talk to Ryou," Malik said, a serious expression on his face. Malik, Bakura and Mariku were walking towards Ryou's house, hoping to catch him before he left to school. "I really can't stand that parent of his, who does he even think he is dragging Ryou off like that."

"Malik calm down, I'm sure Ryou will tell us what we want to know, anyway at least that 'date' of ours went well," replied Bakura, winking at Mariku, who was smirking at the antics he and Bakura got up to.

"Yeah, it was pretty fun, whilst you and Mariku were playing tonsil tennis Ryou was practically crawling on my lap to escape the awful film," said Malik, smirking whilst thinking about how cute Ryou looked. "Finally Ryou's…house….Ryou?"

"M…Malik?" Questioned Ryou, praying it really was him.

"How come you're out here, how were you planning on getting to school?"

"Well…Erm…Akefia started work early, so I didn't really know what to do," Ryou looked relieved that he could have some help getting to school, silently thanking the Gods, but he really hated lying to them, because to be honest he liked them more than friends. However he knew they couldn't be together, because they were already in a relationship. The other three boys looked at each, knowing he wasn't telling the truth.

"Come on, we should go to school now," said Mariku, "Erm which arm should I hold, I don't want to hurt your sore arm,"

"Oh Erm, thanks, and this one," Ryou replied holding out his arm, thinking about how considerate his new found friends were being. 'I've never had anyone be this kind to me, it feels nice' though Ryou, as Mariku held onto his arm and the four of them set off on their way to school.

A/T/S/C/H/O/O/L

It was lunch break and the four boys were sat outside underneath a rather large apple tree. From when they started hanging out together Bakura and Mariku had constantly been dealing with people making fun of Ryou's 'disability', in easier terms it meant they beat up anyone who made fun of him, whilst Malik made sure Ryou wouldn't find out. Since they met the other three boys felt protective over Ryou, and it wasn't just because of the fact he was blind.

"Ryou?"

"Hm, yes?"

"Well we'd want to know how you actually got that burn on your arm," both Mariku and Bakura were looking at Ryou expectantly, hoping that Malik could get him to open up to them, even if it was just a bit.

"I already told you, I spilt something hot on it," Ryou was trying to act as calm as possible, looking down at the floor, trying to avoid what eye contact they could make.

"Ryou we want you tell us and well, we've seen how awful your father,"

"He's not my father," snapped Ryou, getting angry with his new friends. Suddenly he realised what he'd said, these were the first people he'd ever told, and he usually just let people think whatever they want. For once he was glad he couldn't see, but if he could he would have seen the shocked looks on all three of the other boys faces, they didn't even consider this possibility

"What do you mean he isn't your father?" asked Malik, trying to be as gentle as he could.

"I mean exactly what I said," mumble Ryou, moving so that he was hugging his knees so close to his chest his knuckles turned white, because his mind was now replaying awful memories of what had happened to his real parents. He was trying so hard not to cry

"Will you tell us what happened to your real parents?" The other three boys were slowly crowding around Ryou. They couldn't explain it but their hearts clenched when they saw how upset Ryou was and they were all desperate to keep him from crying.

"I…I…Well it's a long story, and the…the last time I tried to speak about it…well I couldn't," Ryou finally gave up his battle and let the tears fall freely down his face, hiding his face beneath his hands. By now he was thinking about how his new found friends were probably trying not to laugh, for the second time today he was glad he couldn't see.

Suddenly he felt warmth surrounding him, as two arms encircled around him. However this reminded him of his mother and how whenever he would hurt himself or start to cry he would always finds love behind these embraces. As Malik embraced Ryou he felt his tears soaking into his shirt, but he didn't care all that mattered right now was Ryou. Every time he cried harder Malik just tightened his hold.

However what he didn't expect was to fin two people kissing his cheeks and wrapping their arms around the both of them, looking at the other two he saw Bakura raise his hand and brush it over his cheek.

"You're crying," whispered Mariku, smiling sadly along with Bakura. Neither of them liked it when Malik cried, but what they didn't expect was seeing Ryou also like this would make them feel this way

"I'm sorry," mumble Ryou, as his sobbing started to stop, pulling out of their embrace. He was embarrassed. These people he'd known for little under a week had suddenly had to try and stop him crying.

"It's fine,"

But what Ryou didn't expect was one of them to swoop down and peck him on the lips. Pulling away quickly he touched his lips, not knowing what was happening, were they trying to take advantage of him? Two other lips found their way to his cheeks, causing his face to redden even further.

"We really like you Ryou," said Mariku, both Bakura and Malik agreeing with him

"You're not just saying that?" asked Ryou, scared that they were lying, because of all the time Akefia had lied to him.

"No we promise we aren't"

"Thanks, I don't really understand my feeling yet, but…I really care about you all,"

This sentence on its own caused the other three boys to smile and glance at each other in hope.

"How about we go back to our place?" asked Mariku looking hopeful.

"You're not going to do anything are you?" asked Ryou, starting to wonder if they actually were going to take advantage of him.

"No, God no!" replied Bakura, quickly, making sure Ryou didn't get the wrong end of the stick.

"Oh sorry, well then yes, let's go," Ryou smiled. Probably the only real smile he had made in years.

M/A/R/I/K/U/S/P/L/A/C/E

All four of them had gotten back to Mariku's place, all of them sat on the couch together, when Ryou finally realised that Mariku had said; 'our place'.

"Why did you say our place?" He asked, when he realised just how abrupt he had sounded, he was about to apologise for this when Mariku laughed and answered him, "Me, Malik and Bakura share it, our parents, well let's not go into too much detail yet,"

"Oh okay," Ryou knew that it was only fair; he wasn't prepared to tell them about his past as just yet anyways.

"Now that we're…well together I guess, could you tell us what really happened to your arm," Malik was asking this in a slightly begging tone, desperate to know who had hurt him.

"Well promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Promise," all three boys said this in sync, desperate to know.

"Well I did kind of spill scolding hot soup on it, but it wasn't really by my hands," Ryou trailed off, not wanting to tell them any more of the story.

"Who did it," hissed Bakura, already knowing the answer.

"Akefia," Ryou said this in the smallest voice possible, so it was a surprise that they actually heard him.

"I'LL KILL HIM!" roared Mariku, about to get up, but was stopped by Bakura, yanking him to sit back down.

"It's OK, he didn't mean it!" Ryou wanted out of this situation now, fortunately thinking of a reasonable reason, "I need to call Akefia, I need to get home," he got, up suddenly forgetting that he was in a different environment, but realised this when he tripped over the coffee table's leg and fell head first into the table, knocking himself unconscious.

"RYOU!" shouted all three boys, rushing to his side, "PHONE AN AMBULANCE!" shouted Malik, as he cradled Ryou's head in his lap, ignoring his surroundings as Mariku rushed off to call the ambulance in.

Cliff-hanger, I'm so sorry please don't kill me! _ anyway I hope you enjoyed it please review, want to hear your opinions on this story.