Kumori: Yay! I'm back!

Kagayami: Thanks to miko-hanyou's nagging, my hikari was forced to sit down and write this chapter…

Kumori: I thought it would take me at least the rest of the long weekend, but inspiration hit me upside the head! I wrote this all in one sitting!

Kagayami: So thanks, miko-hanyou, for getting me to write! Otherwise who knows how long it could have been!

Kumori: And now, to all my wonderful reviewers:

Okay, I'm really grateful to all of you for reviewing, but because of the three chapter speedy update, it's really hard to pick out who I've replied to, who I haven't, and how many reviews you all have left. So I just want to say thank you to all of you! Whenever I run out of ideas, I run back to my reviews page! Next chapter, I'll go back to individual replies. Promise.

Kumori: Wow, 113 reviews! I'm so shocked and pleased! I love you all! In fact, I love you all so much, I think I'm going to dedicate this chapter to all my reviewers! Couldn't do it without you!

Kagayami: Okay, we get it! You have an unhealthy fascination with reviews! Can we get on with the chapter already?

Kumori: In just a minute…first, I have some really good news!

Kagayami: This whole thing is a dream and Yugi's going to wake up in Bakura's arms all happy and snug?

Kumori: Oh, goodness, no! Sorry, but my bishie torture is very real!

Kagayami: ..:: angry pout ::..

Kumori: My news is…to everyone who has been waiting for another lemon…either next chapter or the one after…or maybe the one after…I'll be writing to lemon to end all lemons!

Kagayami: …..:: drool ::.. Sweet. Believe me folks, she's told me about it…..:: fans self ::..

Kumori: Just to let you know, it'll take place in four different rooms (including the shower…), in all so many different positions, and if it turns out as good as I hope it does, it'll be tré hot.

Kagayami: There…something to look forward to.

Kumori: Now, onto the chapter!

Last Time…

The world was blurry as I ran, but finally I found myself at his door. My chest constricted with each breath and I wanted to collapse. I banged loudly on the door, praying he'd be there. Praying he'd open up.

Ra threw me a bone that day.

The door swung open, and there he was. White hair spilling down his back, brown eyes wide with confusion. "Yugi? What are you doing here?"

In between breaths, I managed to pant, "Ryou…please help me."

And Now…

Ryou's reaction was instantaneous. "Oh my Ra…Yugi, come in." he said worriedly, wrapping one arm around the smaller hikari's shoulders, "Yugi…tell me what's wrong."

Yugi's chest rose and fell rapidly, sucking in breath after breath. His entire body burned with a ferociousness he didn't think possible. His eyes stung with unshed tears and his head hurt with a vengeance from his previous crying. "Ryou…Ryou, what can I do? He's going to kill me…he's going to leave me. And Anzu…how can I face her?" he whispered in a rush, shoulders beginning to shake. His breath came in even faster pants, this time not from exhaustion, but from panic and dread rising in his stomach.

Ryou's eyebrows knitted together, and he led Yugi to the couch, gently sitting him down. His coffee-coloured eyes shone with concern and he brought Yugi close, letting the other boy lean against his chest. "Yugi, calm down. Just breathe…"

Yugi revelled in the warmth of the embrace. He let his body melt into Ryou, willing his lungs to work properly. It was difficult, and he couldn't tell how much time had passed before he could actually see straight and comprehend anything. Even then, his breaths came raggedly and his mind swam with tribulation.

He sighed. Ryou had begun stroking his hair, and rocking him back and forth. "Now," the white-haired light whispered softly, "Tell me what's wrong."

Yugi drew another shaky breath. How could he explain everything he was feeling? How could he explain the shame…the hurt…the love? "Ryou," he murmured dejectedly, "...I…I'm fucked."

Ryou blinked. He hadn't expected to hear it so bluntly.

He looked down at the duellist in his arms. The boy was trembling; he could feel it against his chest. He was paler than usual and his eyes seemed distant and empty. He could see the shine of tears in his eyes, the look of complete despair and confusion. He had been worried about Yugi before, but never had he been actually afraid for his sanity…and maybe even for his life.

He swallowed hard. He couldn't do this alone. "Yugi," he said tenderly, "I'm going to call Malik, okay? Stay here and try to rest a little."

Ryou frowned as Yugi just nodded and shut his amethyst eyes and pulled out of his arms, drawing his knees to his chest and leaning back into the couch. 'Yugi…what are you doing to yourself?'

LINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINE

Malik was panting by the time he reached Ryou's house. The call he'd received from the doe-eyed hikari barely twenty minutes ago had sent him flying from his home and tearing down the street like a madman…

Flashback

He giggled. "Marik, you're a prick!" he exclaimed, gasping as his yami continued to tickle him unmercifully.

Ring….Ring… (A/N: Yeah, I know…I'm no good at sound effects…so shoot me.)

"Marik, I have to get the phone!"

The larger yami just smirked. "Don't care."

Malik pouted and narrowed his eyes as best he could while still succumbing to little laughs from Marik's nimble fingers. "If you let me get the phone, I promise I'll let you use the handcuffs tonight…"

The cordless telephone was practically shoved under his nose, his yami helping him up off the floor and walking away with a rather oddly docile look upon his face.

Malik shook his head. 'Sex maniac…'

"Hello? Malik speaking."

The other end was silent for a moment. "…Malik?"

Malik's eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head. "Ryou? What's the matter? You sound depressed."

"No…I'm fine. But I need you here as soon as possible." Ryou's voice was almost panicked.

Malik's insides twisted. "Ryou, tell me what's wrong." he demanded, eyes narrowing with worry.

"It's…it's Yugi. He showed up at my house and he's really down…I'm really worried Malik. I think something really horrible might have happened. I just need-"

Malik cut him off, having stopped listening the minute he heard the words "Yugi," "worried," and "horrible" uttered in the same breath. "I'll be there right away Ryou."

He didn't wait for a goodbye before hanging up and running for the door, stopping only momentarily to tell Marik that he was needed at Ryou's house, that something was wrong with Yugi, and that he'd be home when he could.

End Flashback

Malik banged on the door, trying to catch his breath. It didn't take long for Ryou to answer and lead him to the living room where Yugi sat with his head resting on his knees.

"Yugi?"

The aforementioned hikari raised his head and gave a tired, half-smile. "Hey Malik."

Malik's face softened and he made his way to the couch, sitting down to Yugi's left and wrapping an arm around his shoulder. He smiled slightly at Ryou when the brown-eyed boy sat at Yugi's right. "Yugi…what's happened? What's wrong?"

Yugi nearly scoffed. What was wrong? Everything was wrong! His life had just completely gone to Hell in a hand basket.

He took a deep breath. "Anzu…she came over last night and…and she told me that she wants Bakura…"

Malik and Ryou exchanged shocked and disgusted looks. "Yugi, I'm so sorry…" Ryou whispered, placing a hand on the smaller duellist's arm.

Yugi stiffened. "That's not all. She wanted me to help her 'snag' him…she wanted to use me as a pretend boyfriend…and she…she…" A single tear rolled down his cheek, but he wiped it away. He would not be weak again. He would not cry.

Malik's arm tightened involuntarily around Yugi. He hated to see his friend like this, and the very thought of Anzu trying to do that…it made him shudder. 'Poor Yugi…' "What did she do, Yugi? You can tell us."

Yugi whimpered and lowered his head. He couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. It sounded so pathetic, and it served only to remind him that he wasn't worthy of Bakura…that Bakura was going to throw him away.

Instead, he brought his hands up to his choker and discarded it, throwing it onto the coffee table, letting the dark mark on his neck show with sickening clarity. "She did that…"

Ryou and Malik gasped simultaneously. The mark was hideous in its pronounced nature. It contrasted his alabaster skin and, quite abruptly, both could completely understand what had gotten Yugi so worked up. Both had rather quickly come to the same conclusion.

Bakura was going to be pissed. It didn't have to be said out loud in order to weigh down on all three hikaris' shoulders.

"…That bitch." Malik muttered under his breath.

Yugi began to tremble and air hitched in his throat. Everything that he'd worked so hard for…Bakura, keeping his relationship a secret, resisting the urge to just scream out loud…it had all come crashing down around him. He'd lost it all and he was so close to losing control…

Malik closed his eyes to the pinprick of angry tears welling up in them and removed his arm from the small boy's shoulder. He glanced at Ryou, who was engrossed with staring at Yugi with pure anxiety and fear. He seemed at a loss…

…but Malik wasn't.

"Let it all out, Yugi." he said sternly, getting to his feet and pushing his tears back, "You can't hold it in forever, and it's killing you."

Yugi shut his eyes and bowed his head deeper. No, he could do it. He could keep it in. He could push it back to nothingness…

His body wasn't listening. He was trembling uncontrollably, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Scream, Yugi. Shout. Throw something. Just let it out. Do it!"

He tried to block out Malik's voice, tried not to listen. But it didn't work…he heard every piercing word. 'No! I can be strong…I can be strong for once!' he tried to convince himself, arms tightening to the point of pain around his legs.

"Malik! Stop it!" Ryou pleaded, turning his eyes away from Yugi's quivering form. The image seemed to physically hurt him. It tortured him to see any one of his friends in pain, and he couldn't bear to look anymore.

"Yugi!" Malik went on relentlessly, "Fuck, Yugi! Listen to me!" He grabbed the tri-colour-haired by the shoulders and dragged him to his feet almost roughly.

The little hikari could barely support himself, his entire body shivering violently. His eyes snapped open and he wrapped his arms around himself as tight as he could, knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. He stared at the ground beneath him, not daring to meet the eyes of Malik or Ryou for fear of seeing the worry and frustration he knew he'd caused them.

"Malik! For Ra's sake, stop!"

Ryou's pleas fell on deaf ears as Malik's onslaught continued. It wasn't easy for him to do it, but Malik forced himself to stare straight at the broken boy and demand from him a release. 'Ryou…Yugi…you'll thank me later…I'm sorry.'

"Yugi! Let it go! LET IT GO!"

Everything melded into one huge caucus to Yugi. Malik's yells, Ryou's pleads, the voice in the back of his mind that told him that he was worthless, his own voice trying to block it all out…

Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore. For the first time in history, Yugi Motou completely and utterly snapped.

He threw his head back, violet eyes springing closed, and let out a carnal, wordless shout. His entire body tensed and his arms let go of his body, hands contorting into fists at his sides.

It was like nothing he had ever felt. Everything he had, every emotion he had felt, he poured into this scream. It felt like something ripping inside of him, like a piece of paper splitting in half. It was his entire being tearing through his throat.

His mind didn't register his movement, but the next thing he knew he was at the opposite wall, his fists pounding into the plaster. Hot tears streaked down his face; he could taste the salt on his lips. Wordless screams still tore out of his mouth; filling him, emptying him.

Finally, with everything he had left, he grabbed the nearest thing he could find, which happened to be a portrait and blindly threw it as hard as he could.

He didn't notice that Malik had to duck out the way to avoid being hit, but he did hear the crash of the frame hitting the wall and shattering into a million little pieces.

At last, his strength gave out on him, and his knees buckled. He began to fall and the world became a blurry mess. He prepared himself for the impact of the floor and succumbed to a torrent of sobs.

The impact never came though, as a pair of arms caught him around the waist and held his body close, cradling him in their lap.

"Shh…Good, Yugi. You did good. It's all okay. Everything's okay." he heard Malik's voice whisper softly into his ear.

He could feel Ryou's soft touch on his stomach and his body relaxed somewhat. Still, his form was wracked with almost painful sobs and near-nonsensical murmurs poured from his tongue. "I love him…going to leave…hate her…hate her so much…what am I going to do…"

"Hush, Yugi," it was Ryou's voice this time, "You're going to be okay. We're here for you."

The last thing he saw before his tired body yielded to sleep was the crumpled picture lying in a pool of broken glass. It was a portrait of Bakura leaning up against a light pole, seemingly taken without his notice. His eyes were closed and his lithe body completely supported on the pole. His white hair cascaded over his shoulders and his arms lay folded across his chest.

A last stray tear slid down Yugi's cheek as he stared at the image that he'd destroyed before he could no longer hold onto consciousness.

He fell into sleep's gracious hold.

LINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINE

Kagayami: Well that was nice of you…

Kumori: Wasn't it though?

Kagayami: -.-" That was cruel even by my standards.

Kumori: I know, I know. But you know what will make Yugi's torture end quicker?

Kagayami: …death to Anzu?

Kumori: Well…yes…but also REVIEWS!

See you next chapter people!