(I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh)

~Chapter Ten~

I woke up next to Yugi. That was enough to make it my "best day ever." I lay there for a while, just watching his eyes twitch slightly behind his lids. Unfortunately, that couldn't last forever. Ryou knocked on the door, and gave me about two seconds before barging in anyway.

"Ryou, what the hell?" Yugi whined as he was woken up by my voice and the rush of cold air that Ryou brought with him.

"You two need to get dressed. Now."

"Eh?" Yugi struggled to open his eyes as he squinted at my brother. "Wha's goin' on?"

"What's going on is your brother's coming over. I don't think he's too happy." Shit! This would... not be fun. Not at all. Yami wasso overprotective of his brother, and he really really didn't like me.

"Whaddas 'e want?" Yugi yawned hugely.

"Well, you did kind of tell him that you two were... together when he called last night..." Oh, yeah. Yugi had accidentally sorta let it slip... "And he knew you were spending the night. So, somehow I don't think he wants to discuss the weather."

As it turns out, Ryou was right. Yami didn't look any happier to see me than I did to see him, and Yugi stood between us nervously.

"Um... guys? Bakura, be nice. Yami, please don't be mad..."

"Come and sit down, you two." Ryou took charge, like always, and for once, I was grateful. Yami, of course, took the couch, and since there was no way I was gonna sit next to him, I had to sit in the chair. Where I couldn't sit by Yugi. I'm pretty sure he did it on purpose. Yugi, oblivious of course, sat next to his brother, happy to see him.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" he gushed. Yami looked slightly uncomfortable, and I couldn't help feeling a little bad for the jerk.

"Yeah, thanks to Seto... if he hadn't gotten there on time..." He let it drop. We could all guess there that woulda led.

"Shit, man. You okay?" I asked Yami, who looked kinda surprised that I was being nice. What? I wasn't a complete dick, and his situation sucked.

"Yeah... thanks, Bakura." Yugi looked so damn happy that Yami and I were being civil.

"So... what's going on?" Yugi asked tentatively.

"Um... Well, you know, we're staying with Seto and Mokuba's parents... and, um, I was thinking you should get settled in... you know." He watched the floor the entire time he was talking. When had he gotten so... unsure of himself? I mean, he was never the most outgoing person, but he never used to be this quiet. I noticed a couple of other things as he was talking. Yeah, I'll admit I was watching him, but I was curious. Plus, it helped that he was almost as pretty as his brother. Nah, just kidding. He was no where near as gorgeous as Yugi, but I'll admit, he wasn't terrible-looking. The way he sat just screamed "bully-magnet." He was kinda hunched over, and his arms were almost... clutching at each other, like he was trying to protect himself from someone. He sorta flinched at any sudden movements, and he fidgeted constantly, picking at his already bleeding cuticles the entire time. What pissed me off most, though, wasn't anything he was doing; actually, it was what had been done to him. I wasn't looking that hard, and I could clearly see the hand-shaped bruise around his neck, as if someone had tried to choke him to death. When he moved even the slightest, he was so damn skinny that his sweatshirt would fall off of his shoulder where I could see more bruises and a bitemark. His wrists were bruised too, and there were fingernail marks, like someone had been squeezing his wrists. I'd always wondered how he could stand to wear long sleeves in the summer time; I don't know how I was so fucking retarded that I didn't figure that out. It isn't that hard to figure out, and with the way Yami's attitude has changed, it's pretty fucking obvious what's going on. He used to more confident, and we were always getting into arguments and fights in preschool and day care. Even though he wasn't like super outgoing, he was still sure of himself, and he didn't act like he was gonna get hit for just being there. Maybe I kinda knew (or at least suspected) that somethin' was going on like that, but didn't wanna think about it. Shit.

Yami kept glancing at his brother, and then at me, and I knew that he wanted to talk to me alone, but didn't wanna hafta say anything in front of Yugi.

"Hey, Yugi. I think Ryou might need some help in there." I gestured to the kitchen where Ryou was making pancakes. I swear to god, he's gonna make a great little housewife someday. Hell, he was even wearing an apron and everything. Yugi looked kind of confused for a moment, but I gave him a look, trying to get him to take the hint. Either he fell for it or he really did take the hint, cuz he raced outta the room.

"Okay, I'll get you guys when breakfast is ready..." When he had left, Yami sighed. He didn't look happy, and he still looked kinda jumpy, but he also had this fierce look, like he was daring me to mess with him.

"Alright. Um... I don't really know what to say, just..." He sounded so uncomfortable. "I'm not accusing you of anything, but you know, I mean i-if you're just dating Yugi to-to-" He was stuttering so badly.

"To have sex with him?" I supplied, and he nodded, his face turning a nice shade of red.

"Y-yeah... please, don't do that to him. I mean, just please don't hurt him." He looked heartbroken. "You don't have the greatest reputation... not that I'm really one to talk." He laughed harshly. And I tilted my head a little.

"Whaddaya mean?" He looked at me like I was crazy. Okay, so I was, but that's beside the point.

"Seriously?" He didn't have to sound like I was stupid... "Seriously?"

"What?!" I snapped.

"I... am a total slut, apparently." Well, that was blunt... "You can't tell me you haven't heard the rumors..."

"Oh, those bullshit rumors about that one teacher dude? Yeah, but that doesn't mean shit." He sat there for a second.

"Well... some of them... n-never mind."

"Okay, so I know a few of them were true... but so what? You liked him, he screwed you over. It isn't like you were plotting to get him fired or anything..." of course I'd heard the rumors. Who hadn't? There'd been this really cool teacher that everyone liked, and he and Yami got caught having an affair. People got pissed cuz they're fucking homophobes, and they blamed everything on Yami, which was total bullshit. They were saying all kinds of fucked up stuff, like how he'd "seduced" the teacher and crazy shit like that. He stared at me for a moment before blushing and looking at the ground.

"Still, I had no excuse..." I shook my head.

"Yeah, whatever. He fucking knew better. He probably told you all kinds of stupid shit, too, didn't he?"

"W-what?"

"That he loved you? I bet he told you that. Probably fed you some line about how if you actually loved him, you'd have sex with him? Sound familiar?" He nodded, his expression totally ashamed. Not that he should be ashamed. "Yeah, typical predator. They always say the same things..." Something in my voice must have given me away, cuz his head snapped up and he stared at me intensely.

"B-Bakura, what are you implying?" I shrugged. Now I was getting nervous.

"Just that those bastards are everywhere. And that it's not like it was your fault or anything like that..." God, he was staring at me with those crimson eyes, that were even redder than mine (what's up with that? I'm the albino, not him) and making me so nervous.

"What happened with you?" He almost whispered. Shit. I was hoping he wasn't gonna ask. I glared at him, but I felt like I kinda owed him something. "Who was it?"

"Lissen, I'll tell you, but you tell anyone, and I mean anyone, Ryou and Yugi included..." I left the threat open. He nodded, and I sighed heavily. "Before my mom died, we used to go with her a lot to see her relatives. We'd stay with my grandparents, and my uncle lived with them..." The second I mentioned him, I saw Yami's eyes cloud over with realization. Shit. No one knew about this...

"Go on..."

"Yeah, well, it's kinda obvious, ain't it? He told me I was his favorite nephew, and I couldn't tell people how much he loved me, cuz they'd get jealous. Hell, I didn't know any better. I thought I was special, cuz he loved me best. Load of bullshit that turned out to be." Yami's eyes darkened, and I noticed that he was hugging his arms to himself, his hands white-knuckled. "Hey, man. You okay?" He nodded tensely.

"More or less..." Yeah, I knew how that went.

"But Yami, lissen. You don't hafta worry about Yugi. I... would never hurt him. Never. I'll fucking kill anyone who even thinks about hurting him," I promised, getting more and more worked up with every word. His smile actually looked real this time, which made me feel a little calmer.

"I believe you. Thank you. And..." Here it came; the useless apologies about something that was long past and couldn't be fixed. "Sorry about prying. I didn't mean to be nosy." Huh?

"Oh-oh, it's okay. Uh, thanks..." That totally threw me. Course, I shoulda known that Yami wouldn't be one for empty, useless sympathy... he totally knew where I was coming from on this one.

"Just out of curiosity, how long have you two been, uh... together?" ooh... I wasn't sure how long exactly, but I knew one thing... that Yami wouldn't wanna hear.

"Uh... well... don't take this the wrong way, but uh... since that last time that your dad... um... the chemistry test..." His face turned white.

"O-oh..." Yeah, that was what had happened to him. Of all the things... he'd failed a chemistry test, and his dad had been really angry. And had just sort of taken it out on Yami.

"He actually just sort of showed up on my bed... I came back up from dinner, and there he was. Scared the shit outta me." I laughed softly. "And then he jumped me. Not that you wanted to know that..." He shook his head, smiling shakily.

"Nah, it's okay. I mean... it isn't like he isn't old enough to make his own decisions..." He still looked a little shaken up.

"He wouldn't take no for an answer," I told him lightheartedly. "He's scary when he wants to be..." Finally, he laughed.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. Sorry about that." I put my hands up in surrender.

"Shit, I don't mind. But hey, Yami?" He turned to me. "Just, uh... take care of yourself, man. Yugi... well, he knows everything." He cringed at my words, and I felt kinda bad for him. "Sorry, but... you know. He worries about you, so... you know." He nodded, looking a little sad.

"Thank you, Bakura. Thanks for taking care of him... and helping him when I can't..." This was getting too touchy-feely for me. And then Yugi came in and saved us from more awkward, heart-to-heart conversation.

"You guys! Pancakes!" Yami and I both laughed, and Yugi looked like he would pass out from relief. "Good! You two didn't kill each other..." Yami shrugged.

"Not yet. I think we can manage to get along..." He glanced at me, and I nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I'll try to control myself." Yami and I still weren't like best friends or anything, but we had come to a sort of understanding. He wasn't a bad guy, and I'd never hated him, but you know how it goes. It was unfortunate for both of us, but we had more in common than we had thought...

A/N: Thanks for reading... I know Bakura's a little OOC in this chapter, but it was just kind of working that way.

I wasn't actually planning on having that little tidbit with Bakura's past... it just sort of happened. I dunno where it came from.

Review, please? Many thanks to soundofmadness223.

~alex~