The Hardest Part Chapter 14: Broken innocence, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Authors Note:

So I know I am taking 100 years to update this story. I have just been working a ton and it has been hard to find any time to write. But I finally got a day off so TA-DA! Here is the next chapter. I pretty much ripped my own heart out writing this so please don't kill me *hides face*

As always comments and favorites make me the happiest girl alive soo…ya :)

I knocked once…twice…three times but I was greeted only with silence. I felt my heart plummet and I struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to overwhelm me.

"Maybe he just isn't home Skylar. We can always come back again tomorrow." Yugi's words were reassuring but I refused to give up…not yet.

"Ryou? Are you in there? It's me…Skylar?" I pressed my ear to the door in an attempt to discern if there was anyone inside.

"Come on Skylar, I know how badly you wanted to see him but you can stay with me tonight and we will come back first thing in the morning."

I leaned against the door for a second longer gathering the shreds of my composure but just as I was about to push off and walk away I heard a soft sound…almost a whimper.

"Ryou!" I called louder, pounding the door with my fist so hard that it stung.

"Skylar please calm down!" Yugi had grabbed onto my arm and he was attempting to pull my hand away from the well abused door.

"Yugi I heard something. Ryou is in there and something is wrong…I can't explain how I know I just do." Even as I spoke a bubble of fear was forming in my stomach and I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to Ryou.

"Um…okay. If you say so I trust you. But how can we get in? The door is locked." He twisted the knob as he spoke as a demonstration.

"Go down to the lobby and try to convince them to give you a key!"

"These are private apartments how do I do that?"

"I don't know just tell them you are his brother and you have to get something out of his apartment! Anything please Yugi just hurry!" I pushed on his shoulders in attempt to get him moving.

"Okay I will be right back!" As he sprinted down the stairs I slowly sank onto the cold concrete landing with my ear still flush to the door.

"Ryou please if you can hear me let me in. I know you probably don't want to see me but I just have to make sure you are all right…please…?" I waited for what seemed like hours but was probably only a few seconds until I heard a faint sound, almost like something being dragged across the floor. With bated breath I waited…hearing it come closer and then I heard a dull thump…followed by a broken sob.

I flew to my feet in a panic and frantically leaned over the stairwell trying to ascertain where Yugi had gotten to. He still wasn't back and I knew I was running out of time. With a strangled cry I threw myself at the door with all the strength I could muster. Besides for a dull thud the door didn't react at all to my assault. I pulled in a shaky breath and tried to think…in movies when someone breaks down a door they always kick it close to where the lock meets the wall.

"Just hang on Ryou," I muttered to myself as I backed up against the railing and aimed a fierce kick at the lock. I was rewarded with the sound of shattering wood and some splinters in my foot. I heard a voice yell in alarm from one of the neighboring apartments but I would not be deterred so easily. A few more well placed kicks and the door finally accepted defeat and swung open with a bang against the far wall, knocking a picture frame down in the process.

Panting, I scanned the room quickly willing my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting quicker. Every lamp had been extinguished inside and I didn't see anyone. Maybe Yugi was right and my overactive imagination had just been playing tricks on me. But what I did see shocked what little breathe I had left out of my lungs. It was a stunning portrait of me, set up on an easel in the middle of the room. I was sitting under my favorite tree in the garden at Ryou's old house reading a book just like I used to when I was younger. I slowly walked toward it…it was absolutely stunning…I couldn't believe that Ryou had painted me…he hadn't forgotten about me after all.

A soft gasp broke the spell the painting had over me and I snapped back to the present. The last rays from the sun illuminated the one thing I had been so desperate to find. Slumped on the floor…his hair a shock of white against the dark carpet…was my Ryou. I crossed the room in a flash and gathered his limp body into my arms.

"Oh Ryou…" I whispered as I cradled his frail form. "What happened to you?" I answered my own question as my foot knocked an empty bottle from its spot under the bed…a bottle of sleeping pills. I checked his pulse and it was weak and erratic, I had to call an ambulance he didn't have much time. But as I attempted to lay him back down on the floor and go find a phone he clutched my shirt with his pale hand, his grip surprisingly strong given his frail state.

"My angel…" his voice was so thready and weak I could barely hear him.

"Ryou please I have to get you help." I tried to remove his hand but he just dug in even more.

"Please don't leave me…" he gasped. "I just want to enjoy my last moments with you." With a shaking hand he reached up and brushed away a tear that was trailing down my cheek.

"Don't cry for me love…I am not worthy of your tears."

"Don't you say that Ryou! I am going to save you so don't give up…not now when I have just found you again."

The sound of distant sirens filled my ears, coming closer by the second. That neighbor had probably called the police when she saw me break in…if they got here in time they could take Ryou to the hospital.

"Why Ryou…why would you do this?"

"I-I n-n-never got to t-t-tell you…" Ryou attempted to continue but his face twisted in pain and he choked on his words. A racking cough ripped through his thin form and his breathing became even more labored.

"Hush don't try to speak. Help is on the way and we can talk as soon as you are well again." Ryou vehemently shook his head and struggled to sit up.

"It's better off this way…I am sorry I couldn't explain it to you before. But I had to do this. I did this for everyone…but most of all for you. Because I love you…and now you will be safe." As those words escaped his chapped lips his eyes fluttered shut and he collapsed limply into my arms.

"NO RYOU! NO! WAKE UP! Please don't leave me here. I need you! I love you too! You can't go…not now…" I clung to his lanky frame as my body shuddered with heart wrenching sobs. The sound of footsteps registered faintly and I raised my tear soaked face to see Yugi kneeling down besides, his eyes cloudy with unshed tears.

"Skylar…" he hesitantly reached out his hand and grasped my shoulder reassuringly.

"The police are downstairs…they are on their way up here right now. I ran up ahead to make sure you were okay…" his voice broke as he fell silent and dropped his face into his hands. Silent tears leaked onto his palms and his shoulders shook violently.

I stared down at the lifeless form of my love…with trembling hands I pushed his beautiful hair back from his forehead and placed a chaste kiss to his rapidly cooling skin. A scream of agony ripped its way out of my throat which ended in a choked sob. Clutching Ryou to my chest I rocked back and forth…waiting for my tears to subside…but knowing that they never would.