Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews! *Hugs everyone* you guys are the best! Well, this chapter might be a little sad, but work with me! More humour will come and romance too! Enjoy!
Chapter 7:
You Always Hurt The Ones You Love
Ryou slumped down onto the soft couch. It was good to rest after that long day of shopping and … dancing. He sighed, flipping his bangs back with his hand. "Well, what did you think of your first shopping trip?" He asked Bakura as he noticed him entering the room.
Bakura looked down at the boy and then walked off toward the staircase. "Fine …" He muttered as he ascended the stairs.
"Téa's not so bad after all, is she?" Ryou asked, smugly.
Bakura paused and turned sharply. "Look, she was just as annoying as I remember her! Why she decided to hang around me all day, I don't know! But I do know that I hated it and if she ever comes near me again, she'll regret it!" He ran up the stairs before Ryou could respond.
Ryou just grinned and twirled his thumbs. "That's not what I heard …"
Bakura slammed the door shut to Ryou's room. He leaned against it, puffing. He frowned and closed his eyes, trying to forget everything that happened today. No matter how hard he tried though, he couldn't, especially what he said to that girl. What was he thinking? Well, that's an obvious answer! He wasn't thinking. It just slipped out. Why? When he saw how rejected she looked it just … came out. He punched the door with the back of his hand. "DAMNIT!!"
Ryou heard a noise coming from his room and went to investigate. He climbed the stairs and knocked on the door. "Bakura? Are you alright?" No answer. He knocked again. "Bakura?" He asked, raising his voice a bit. There was still no answer. He sighed and gripped the doorknob. Slowly he opened the door and noticed the room was in pitch darkness. "Bakura?" He called out softy. He gasped when he saw a figure standing in front of the window.
Bakura looked out into the city. The lights were dazzling and colourful. The sun was just beginning to set, creating a mixture of reds', gold's' and violets. A light wind blew through his soft white tresses, lifting them off of his shoulders. He closed his eyes, taking in the refreshing air. Back in Egypt, the air was always hot but he could get use to this. Without even turning around, he knew who was behind him. "Hello, Ryou. What is it?" He asked, in an unusually gentle voice.
Ryou slowly walked toward him. "I was just wondering if everything was alright. I heard a noise and then you weren't responding to my calls. I was very worried." He joined him at the window, sitting on the ledge. He leaned back against the window and gripped the ledge with his fingers. "So, care to tell me what's on your mind? Or are you going to throw me out of the window for asking?" He smirked.
Bakura chuckled. "No, I don't really feel like it." He bowed is head and rested his hands near Ryou's on the ledge. "Ryou, why am I here?"
Ryou cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
Bakura returned his gaze to the window. "Just what I asked. Why am I here? Why did god give me this life?"
Ryou smiled. "I think he saw that you were a tortured soul that deserved a second chance. He must have seen good in you, or he wouldn't have granted you that gift." He reached over and placed his hand on Bakura's shoulder. "And I think you deserve it!"
Bakura looked up at Ryou. His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to figure the boy out. "Do I? Ryou, I have sinned so much, the devil himself should worship me!" His fingers curled as his grip on the ledge tightened. "I don't think I deserve this. I think I deserve pain, suffering and humiliation even! And what do I get? You, someone I've haunted and hurt for most of my afterlife since I was released. An ally of my worst enemy, the Pharaoh and … and …" He growled.
"And, what?" Ryou asked, his pitching rising in curiosity.
"And the sweetest and kindest girl I've ever met! She's amazing … she accepts me! No matter what I've done to her in the past, she just smiles and keeps encouraging me. Treating me like an equal. And she doesn't even fear me! She just … I don't even know how to describe it!" He shouted as he removed his hands from the sill, laying them limply at his sides.
Ryou's mouth was hanging open. He'd never heard him talk like that before. "You'd … like to get to know her more, wouldn't you?"
"NO! I mean … yes … I mean …I don't know..." He huffed as he crossed his arms. "I don't understand any of this …" He looked away from Ryou. "I think I should remove myself from you and your friends' lives. I don't want to know anyone that knows the Pharaoh."
"You can't!" Ryou protested. "Bakura! You can't just throw everyone away because you can't handle your emotions."
"Yes I can … and I will!" He growled, stubbornly.
Ryou was slowly losing his temper. He was always able to keep his cool but enough was enough. He lifted his arm up, his fist clenched tightly. "Bakura … you are so stupid!" He swung his arm and slapped the former thief across the face.
Bakura winced and grabbed his cheek, which was now stinging and probably red.
Ryou gasped when he realized what he had done. "Oh, Bakura … I am so sorry! I –
"SHUT UP!" Bakura roared.
Ryou cringed.
Bakura raised his hand up and balled it into a fist. He pulled back, preparing to punch Ryou.
Ryou closed his eyes and whimpered slightly. "You … you're only doing this because I told the truth!" He stated bravely. "And you don't know how to handle it … so … so go ahead! Hit me! If it'll make you feel better!" He opened his eyes and glared at Bakura. "I DARE YOU TO HIT ME! YOU ARE A COWARD BAKURA! YOU JUST KEEP RUNNING FROM YOUR PROBLEMS! GROW UP!!!"
Bakura's eyes flashed red.
Ryou cried out as he felt a sharp fist smash into his right eye. He fell to the floor, hitting the wall. He grabbed his eye and began to shake. "You … won't get anywhere … like this." Ryou whispered, looked sadly up at the towering boy. "I care for you … and I won't stop just because you can't control your temper! I'm here for you and so is Téa!" He felt tears falling down his cheeks. "If I hated you, you wouldn't be here right now." He brought his knees up to his chest and covered his head with his arms. He began to cry.
Bakura's eyed widened. What the heck did he just do? He swore he would never hurt Ryou again after what Marik had made him do and now, he just goes and punches him? "Ryou …" He knelt down in front of him. "Ryou, look at me."
Ryou sniffled and lifted his head up slowly. His eyes were puffy and red. Tears stained his cheeks and his eyes looked so hurt and betrayed.
"Ryou …" He sighed as he moved closer and wrapped the boy in his arms. "I'm sorry." He whispered as he rocked him back and forth. "I'm so sorry." Bakura closed his eyes. God gave him this chance to be a better person and all he's done is abuse this chance. Téa would probably hate him for this. And what about Ryou? All he's done his show him compassion and sympathy. He's taken care of him and even tried to get him to socialize. Did he really deserve that punch? No, but he himself did deserve that slap. And it should have ended there. Not like this … Bakura opened his eyes when he heard a familiar pair of shoes clicking by. He released Ryou and looked out of the window. It was Téa. He saw her look up and wave at him. He bowed his head and closed the curtains. He couldn't face her right now.
***
Téa slowly placed her arm at her side as she watched Bakura shut the curtain. She stopped in her tracks and stared up at the window. She glanced down at her watch and saw that it was still early and thought a little visit wouldn't harm her. She gathered up all of her courage and approached the house. She rang the doorbell and waited.
Bakura heard the chime and then looked down at Ryou. He was asleep from crying so hard. "I'll be right back." He whispered. He descended that stairs and approached the front door. He opened it and received a sharp slap to his other cheek.
"You jerk! Is that what you call a greeting? Just what's the matter with you?" Téa shouted, pointing her finger at his face as if she was scolding him. She stopped when she noticed his other cheek was red. "Uh, what happened?"
Bakura felt like slamming the door in her face but thought better of it and allowed her inside. "A small fight between Ryou and I."
"Is he alright?" Téa asked in a panic.
"He's fine!" Bakura snapped. "What are you doing here anyways? Couldn't you tell I wanted to be alone?"
Téa crossed her arms and looked away. "Humph! That's what everyone says when they really need company!"
Bakura gritted his teeth in anger. "You wouldn't understand."
Téa looked up at him, his words perking her interest now. "Maybe I would. What happened?" She asked gently.
***
Ryou opened his eyes and saw he was alone in the room. He groaned when he felt his right eye begin to throb. A loud commotion downstairs caused him to jump.
"YOU WHAT? HOW DARE YOU?" A loud smacking sound was heard, followed by a cry from Bakura. "THAT'S THE THIRD TIME I'VE BEEN SLAPPED TONIGHT! WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK I AM? A PINATA?" A loud noise like footsteps was heard next. "Good idea! Maybe I should get a pole or something and whack you over your damn head with it!" A loud rumbling noise followed and the door to Ryou's room opened. Bakura entered with wide eyes. "Help! She's going to kill me!"
Ryou covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. His eyes widened however when he saw Bakura get smacked in the head with Téa's purse. He fell on his face. She stormed by him and knelt beside Ryou.
"Are you alright?" She asked, placing her hand on his back.
Ryou nodded. "I'm fine. We just had a bit of a row. Nothing serious."
"Nothing serious? Ryou! You have large, swollen black eye." She pointed to his right eye.
Ryou bowed his head. "Well, I started it anyways." He looked back up at her. "I slapped him and then he got really angry."
Téa sighed as she helped him to his feet. "Come on, let's get some ice on it." She led him out of the room.
Bakura was still flat on the ground. "Ow …"
***
Downstairs Ryou was lying down on the couch while Téa was searching the freezer for some ice cubes. She pulled out the tray and wrapped one of the cubes in a wet napkin that was soaked under ice-cold water. She squeezed the remaining contents out so it wouldn't drip and approached the couch. She gave Ryou a sympathetic smile and sat next to him on the couch. "Here." She said gently as she dabbed his eye with the wet ice-cube filled napkin.
Ryou shivered as the ice touched his warm skin, but it's soothing effects soon took the throbbing pain away. "Please don't be angry at him. He's very lost right now."
Téa give Ryou a bitter look. "Yeah, I know … but I can't help but get angry. You're my friend. And I care about you."
Ryou smiled. "Thanks, Téa. But, don't you care about Bakura, too?"
Téa shook her head. "Maybe … I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if I just pity people …" She sighed. "It's just hard to see him as anything more but our former enemy sometimes. You know?"
Ryou looked sad. "I understand."
Téa noticed Ryou's sad expression. "Hey, I won't stop helping him. I promised you that, right? Even if he ends up hating me, I'll still help."
Bakura, who had been listening in, leaned back against the side of stairs. He felt a dull ache in his heart. She didn't think anything of him. All of those things she did … it was just because she promised to help Ryou. Her words didn't mean anything. He should have known.
Téa knew deep inside that she cared for him and most of the stuff she told Ryou wasn't true, but she needed time to clear her thoughts before she was able to tell anyone how she really felt. After all they had been through she couldn't really think of Bakura as anything more then an acquaintance. But after what he did today, she didn't know what to think anymore. She was so confused.
Ryou noticed Téa's silence. "Are you alright?" He asked, sitting up.
Téa smiled and nodded her head. She removed the cloth and handed it to Ryou. "Just got lost in my thoughts." She laughed. "I'm fine. But are you alright?"
Ryou shrugged. "As well as I can be."
Téa stood up. "Well, I'll be going now. If anything happens, you can call me anytime, all right? And … tell Bakura I said 'goodbye' She picked her purse up and waved by as she exited the house.
Ryou looked over to the side and noticed Bakura standing in the hallway. "Hey, Bakura … did you hear?"
Bakura nodded. "I heard alright. I heard everything."
Ryou gasped. "You did, huh? I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was just –
"I know." Bakura left the room after that, without a backwards glance.
Ryou bowed his head. "I'm sorry …"
Bakura didn't know where he was going, but he kept on walking. He opened the back door of Ryou's house and took to the streets. Maybe a walk by the harbour would be refreshing … He glanced up at the signs and remembering the streets from Battle City, knew where to go. He tucked his hands in his pockets and looked up at the night sky. The stars were out but the deep void of blackness surrounding them reminded him of how lonely he was. It's just like us. Those shinning stars are like the Pharaoh and his friends, twinkling merrily and lighting everything up. And the blackness is I … watching from behind, casting shadows over everything and bringing people into darkness ... He finally reached the harbour and leaned against the rail, gazing out at the ships docked. "Just where do I fit in here now?"
To be continued …
