Difinity: *yawns*

Otogi: Hmm?

Difinity: It's nothing, I'm just tired.

Otogi: Oh.

Difinity: Say the disclaimer please?

Otogi: Difinity doesn't own YuGiOh so stop making her feel sad about it!

Difinity: *hugs Otogi*

Otogi: ;)

Summary: Yami continued to gaze out the window in hopes of finding the mysterious figure. Meanwhile at the home of Ryou Bakura, Ryou was being harshly beaten by his dark, Bakura. Finally, Ryou wasn't strong enough and slipped out of consciousness. Bakura, feeling guilt in his heart, took Ryou into the light's room, and cleaned and dressed his wounds. When Ryou awoke, he saw a shadow creep closer and closer to his window while pounding on it repeatedly. He yelped and Bakura came in, worried to check on his hikari. After Bakura left, Ryou realized that Bakura was actually worried about him. Feeling slightly happier, Ryou drifted off to sleep.

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Dark Rose Maiden

Chapter 3

By: Difinity

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" Yugi," Yami started. " When Joey and Serenity left, did you see anything odd outside?" Yugi sat on his bed, ready to sleep when the question was brought up. Yami stood by Yugi's desk, his eyes filled with what seemed concern and confusion. Yugi thought for a moment. He shook his head.

" No Yami. I never saw anything weird," Yugi replied. Yami opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He waved his hand at Yugi while shaking his head.

" Forget I ever mentioned it," Yami said. " It must have been my imagination. Forget it." Yugi stared at his dark. Whatever he had seen, must be bothering him. Yami's face was filled with confusion and worry. His arms were folded and he leaned against Yugi's desk. Yami stared at the floor, deep in thought. What had he seen? What was wrong?

" Yami?" Yugi said, breaking Yami out of his trance. Yami looked at Yugi, who stared at him with open curiosity. " What's wrong?" Yami shook his head.

" Nothing Yugi. Now go to bed, it's late and you have school tomorrow," Yami instructed. Yugi obliged and went to bed. Yami came over and tucked him in, at which Yugi grinned.

" 'Night Yami," Yugi said.

" Goodnight, aibou," Yami replied, turning off the light and quietly closing the door behind him as he left.

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Yugi lay on his bed in the dark. He wrapped his blankets tighter around him and he shifted into a comfortable position. A slight breeze blew through the room. Yugi's eyes shot wide open. Again, the air blew. He sat up and panicky looked around his room. A shadow crept by the corner, growing bigger and bigger by the second. It continued to loom over the small room and Yugi's eyes went wide with fright. The shadow touched the edge of his bed. The bedcovers turned black and grew stiff, cold and rock-solid. The thought hit Yugi; whatever the shadow touched, it petrified.

Yugi got off of his bed and ran to the door, the shadow following close behind. He opened the door and ran out. He turned back to see that shadow fade away once it reached the light in the hallway. He looked at his room with frightened eyes and he breathed in deeply, trying to calm himself. He looked back at his room, which seemed to be empty, but Yugi felt something linger inside the quietness of the still room. He walked down the and went downstairs to find the door leading to the back porch open. Yugi walked towards it, and poked his head outside.

He saw Yami sitting on the porch swing, a novel in his hand. His eyes were focused as they scanned the words quickly. Yugi stood by the door, and he cleared his throat to get his dark's attention. Yami looked up with a smile, only to see the worried look on his hikari's face. He patted the space beside him, motioning Yugi to come. Yugi walked over to Yami, sat down and looked at the ground.

" Yugi, what's wrong?" Yami asked gently, his voice almost a whisper in the still night. Yugi looked at his dark's face, hoping to find some answer for what had occurred in his room. Yami stared deep into the amethyst eyes of his aibou. He was clearly troubled, Yami could sense it. The moon shone down brightly, and the silent sound, carried off the rhythmic sounds of crickets filled the backyard. No one wind blew by, leaving the sounds of the night to linger in the air. Tiny fireflies floated about, seeming as if the stars had come down from the heavens. Yami's heart filled with worry. He looked deeper, only to be responded by the tears forming in Yugi's tantalizing eyes. Yami reached out to brush away the moisture that slid down Yugi's cheeks.

" Why are you crying Yugi?" Yami asked again. Yugi closed his eyes, and let his breath stutter out of him.

" I saw something in my room Yami," Yugi said, ashamed that he felt so frightened by the demonic shadow that haunted him. He felt his cheeks glow red as he explained his fear. It seemed as if he was a little kid, scared of the things that went "bump" in the night. He didn't need Yami to tuck him in and kiss the little baby goodnight to make sure that the bad shadows didn't hurt him.

" What did you see?"

" I-It was a shadow. But..," Yugi paused. " It..it was so demon like. It kept coming closer and closer to me. Everything it touched became petrified. I got scared, so I ran out of my room." Yugi sighed. " It kept following me. But when I got into the hall, it came near the light, but then it went away." Yugi added.

Yami pondered this. " Have you seen these shadows before?" Yugi shook his head. Yami searched his mind for the answers, only to find none.

" Well, Yugi, I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow to figure this out. But right now, I'm tired to the bone, and you've got to go to sleep," Yami yawned. Yugi's eyes widened.

" I-I h-have to go back into m-my room?" he questioned fearfully. Yami's expression turned soft and he smiled lovingly at his light.

" Of course not, aibou," Yami whispered. " You will sleep in my room for tonight. What kind of a guardian would I be if I let you go back there?" Yugi smiled sheepishly and blushed slightly.

Yami and Yugi got ready for bed, and Yami lay down on the mattress, and motioned Yugi to come. Yugi's eyes widened and he blushed a deep crimson. Yami chuckled at his light's embarrassment and he only patted the mattress again. Yugi walked forward and lay beside his darker half. Yami covered them both in the blankets. Feeling warm and secure, Yugi's eyelids grew heavy and he quickly drifted off to sleep. Yugi snuggled closer to his guardian. Yami smiled kindly at his sleeping light.

" I'll protect you from those demons Yugi," Yami vowed, whispering in the stillness of the night. " Do not worry. No harm shall ever come to you." With that said, Yami shut his eyes, falling victim to the luring trance of that which we call sleep.

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Yugi walked around the lunch area with his tray the next day at school during lunch. The area was filled with guys and girls, chatting away, arguing or just enjoying the day. Yugi scanned his surrounding when he saw Joey and Tristan. They waved to him from their table and Yugi quickly made his way through the crowed area. With a bright smile, Yugi greeted his friends.

" Hey guys," Yugi said.

" Hey Yug," Joey said with a smile. " Are we still on for the arcade afta school?" Yugi nodded in response.

" There's no way your gonna beat me at this game, Joey," Tristan taunted. " I'm so sure you haven't even heard of it!"

Joey rolled his eyes in exasperation. Ryou walked over and placed his tray with a bang on the table. Yugi, Joey and Tristan immediately stopped their conversation to see Ryou. He looked exhausted and just so tired.

" Ryou are you all right?" Yugi asked the obvious. Ryou smiled tiredly at his worried friend.

" Yes, I-I'm fine," Ryou stuttered. The others looked at him with disbelief. Ryou's eyes widened as he grew aware of the stares he was receiving. " What?"

Yugi opened his mouth to speak, but decided not to say anything. At least until he could get a minute alone with Ryou.

After school, Yugi managed to catch up with Ryou. The tired boy seemed to be in a rush to get home, but Yugi promised him that he wouldn't be long.

" Ryou I've got to talk to you," Yugi said seriously. Ryou blinked.

" What about, Yugi?" Ryou asked rather nervously. His eyes darted around, and he seemed rather jumpy.

" Ryou why are you so nervous? What's wrong?" Ryou blinked repeatedly and he paced his foot.

" L-Listen, Yugi, I appreciate your concern, but can we talk about this another time?" Ryou walked passed Yugi, but Yugi's hand darted out and caught Ryou by the wrist. Ryou yelped in surprise. The sleeve on Ryou's uniform jacket was rolled up just enough for Yugi to see the pale boy's skin. His eyes widened at the cuts, bruises and burn marks that were exposed. Ryou followed Yugi's gaze, and he began to panic. He tried to pull away, but Yugi rolled Ryou's sleeve up further, exposing more and more injuries. Ryou gave up on trying to get away, and he stood their, avoiding Yugi's amethyst eyes.

" Ryou what is all this?!" Yugi asked incredulously. Ryou shut his eyes and blushed in shame for what Yugi had seen.

"I-It's nothing. J-just a few cuts and bruises," Ryou said quickly. Yugi just stared at his friend.

" A few!? Ryou! Your arm is full of these things!" Yugi grabbed his other arm and rolled the sleeves up again. Ryou's pale flesh was covered in injuries. Yugi felt as if he was going to be sick. He looked deep into Ryou's brown eyes and noticed tears forming in them.

" Yugi…," Ryou trailed.

" Ryou," Yugi said with difficulty. " Is someone abusing you?"

Difinity: Dun dun DUN!!!!!!

Otogi: Cliffhanger?

Difinity: Yes, thanks for pointing that out, Captain Obvious.

Otogi: ^^;

Difinity: Anywho, *gasp* Yugi found out about Ryou's injuries! I'm just building this all up for when the REAL trouble begins, which will start MAYBE in chapter 5 or later on, I'm not sure.

Otogi: Yay.

Difinity: R+R plz!

Yugi: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Difinity: He's sugar high again. Someone get me the tranquilizer gun (--)