Ryou's head throbbed, and he barely bit back a groan.

'Mustn't make any noise in case Bakura is still here. He would be upset to hear me making noises.' Ryou thought in a chastising manner, as if the fault was his that he was hurt, and not his yami's. 'My head really hurts though…but I don't remember hitting it against anything when Bakura hit me…when was that? What time is it? Where am I?' The questions kept coming, making his head throb even more. Helpless, he stopped the deluge of questions which threatened to overwhelm him and let his mind drift back through the events of the day….

~Flashback~

Bakura hitting him, fist making a soft squelchy sound against Ryou's already bruised flesh…Ryou whispering forgiveness, and rousing Bakura's ire by doing so…Bakura storming out…Ryou bandaging himself…managing to drag himself to school…walking slowly around the school so as to disguise his limp…Yugi and his friends asking why he was so much later than usual today (they've already gotten used to him coming in late)… opening his locker to take out his lunch…finding an apple inside it that he could have sworn he hadn't packed himself, but eating it anyway…

Biting into the cold, tart skin of the apple, Ryou winces as the sharp taste floods over his tongue. He doesn't remember packing it last night, but one of the side-effects of Bakura's abuse is that all these small details were becoming unimportant to him. He has an apple, it looked as perfect as the one the tempted Eve, and he's hungry. Ryou can see no reason to question its existence any further, since it could have rolled in, or he could have placed it there and forgotten about it. For some reason, it tastes somewhat odd to him, but he had bitten his tongue so hard and so often this morning that he supposes it's possible that they're malfunctioning. Besides, he doesn't really care, obsessed as he is with trying to himself from screaming at how acidic its juice feels. Strangely enough, after he finishes eating it a bitter aftertaste lingers in his mouth, but he dismisses it as his imagination…

~end of flashback~

'I vaguely coming home, and drinking half a glass of water that was conveniently placed on the kitchen countertop…which is strange since I tidied away before I went to school unless Bakura had come home, drunk some water and then not bothered clearing up…it would be like him. That's about all I remember, everything else is just a blank.  Still doesn't explain why I'm here though…wherever here is…and why my arms feel so cold…not to mention heavy.' Ryou gave up on trying to figure out what had happened in the past, and decided to focus on the future. 'Might as well find out where here is…and what I'm doing here. I haven't heard any movement at all while I've been lying here so it must be safe to open my eyes now…'

The first thing Ryou saw when he opened his eyes was the cracked and peeling wallpaper. The second, the handcuffs and chains trapping his arms to the raggedy mattress that he was lying on. The third? Seto Kaiba's blue, merciless eyes.

Author's Notes : Hm, I realize that this doesn't really fit in with the rest of the chapters and most of it could come near the front. In fact, I really ought to split this into two separate chapters, and post one as the second chapter since it's too contemplative…I think I will!   Except then I'll have to go through it and change the tenses *groans* that's going to be a lot of work…oh well, no work no gain. There, I've done it so everyone go and check chapter two NOW! I command you to…please? And I'm going to be away in France for a week or so, so I can't update until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Wildwolf: Yup, you're 100% correct. Ryou has no idea of what that evil Bakura has got planned…or more correctly, what Kaiba believes that Ryou planned for himself. *evil grin* Oh, and don't let Chibi stop you from assaulting people with grapes; it's great fun. Happy throwing!

NASA: I am pleased with your report, and shall attempt to abide by your regulations!

Darkworld: *blinks* You don't have to be gay to like yaoi/slash, I personally consider myself to be closer to asexual than anything else…and yes, Bakura pretended to be Ryou so that he could make Kaiba think that Ryou wanted Kaiba to rape him (Ryou, not Bakura) …wow, that is kind of a complicated plot *is impressed with the people who understood it*

Mumei Shoujo: nasty? I'd call him clever really...although in a very nasty way.

Little Brat Yami Bakura: well, I like stopping at cliff-hanger endings because else the story might get boring…besides, that way I stay motivated to continue. Hope this chapter came out soon enough, but you'll have to wait a week or so for the next one.

Queen of Darkness: Bakura is an evil person who is scared witless. That's what drove him to it. *evil grin* well, that and the fact that Ryou looks good in handcuffs ;-)

Allenby: Damned with faint praise, huh? It was meant to be disturbing in any case… and I wouldn't count that as flame anyway. I know what real flames are like.

Madiszon: Look, you got your wish! I did this chapter from Ryou's POV like you requested. The new second chapter is also from his POV, so go chek it out. Oh, and yeah, Bakura did set it all up. He's an evil genius *evil grin* no wonder I adore him so much.

Now remember everyone, I am going to be in Paris for a week so do not expect any updates for a while!